Locals Ready to Challenge Ka Ying Rising in The Everest

Chris Waller will launch a three-pronged attack in the AU$20 million The Everest Oct. 18 at Randwick Racecourse, with the champion trainer's focus not only on his own runners but also on how they measure up against the Hong Kong superstar, Ka Ying Rising (NZ). Last year Joliestar (AUS) was luckless in the corresponding race, shuffled back to last before flashing home to finish just over a length and a half from Bella Nipotina (AUS). Since then, she has claimed group 1 victories in the Newmarket Handicap (G1) and Kingsford-Smith Cup (G1), and returns to Randwick with unfinished business. "Right after (jockey) James (McDonald) got off her last year, he said we were very stiff. We should have gone closer," Waller said. "It hasn't so much been about redemption, it's about giving her a second chance. The key is she's a good horse. Let her use her stride and she'll be there at the finish. (Ka Ying Rising) has got to bring that overseas rating to Australia. If he does, it's great for Sydney racing, Australian racing. If he doesn't win, I hope he runs second, and we've got a new world champion." Waller also saddles Lady Shenandoah (AUS), winner of the Coolmore Classic (G1), who was runner-up in the Concorde Stakes (G3) and finished a luckless fourth in the Manikato Stakes (G1). "Her first-up run was excellent and she had no luck in the Manikato," Waller said. "She does have the x-factor." Completing the Waller trio is Angel Capital (AUS), who was a flashing fourth in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1) at his most recent start. The Yulong-owned entire has won five of his nine starts and, while yet to break through at group 1 level, his trainer believes that milestone is within reach. "Everyone that has got anything to do with the horse has got full confidence he's a big deal," Waller said. "We're just waiting for him to put it all together on the big stage." McDonald Ready to Face Ka Ying Rising Again James McDonald, the only jockey so far to inflict defeat on Ka Ying Rising, has declared the world's top-rated sprinter "an absolute superstar" but warns the Hong Kong champion will need to be at his best to win the the Everest Saturday. McDonald, who twice toppled Ka Ying Rising on Wunderbar at Sha Tin in January 2024—the only times Ka Ying Rising has lost in a 15-race career—will ride Waller's Joliestar this weekend and believes the Everest's unrelenting pressure will present a formidable challenge to Ka Ying Rising. "He's a superstar, he's an absolute superstar. If he brings his Sha Tin form, he's almost sometimes impossible to beat the way his figures read. I've ridden some good horses against him and he's made them look pretty second rate, to be fair," McDonald said. "But this is a different kettle of fish. This is probably the toughest test to date for him and he's going to know he's in a horse race, especially with the likes of Jimmysstar, Briasa, Joliestar, and Lady Shenandoah coming at him. He's going to have to be at the top of his game." McDonald is chasing his second victory in the Everest after triumphing on Waller's Nature Strip (AUS) in 2021. Hayes Brothers Take on Father's Hong Kong Star Co-trainers Ben, J.D., and Will Hayes will take on Ka Ying Rising, trained by their dad David Hayes, in the Everest with War Machine (NZ). Ben has admitted that he is unsure of how good his 5-year-old gelding War Machine is, but is excited to find out the answer when the son of Harry Angel (IRE) tackles the Everest this weekend. War Machine has been on a sharp upward curve recently, winning all four of his starts for his new trainers including the Stradbroke Handicap (G1) and Gilgai Stakes (G2). "The exciting thing about War Machine is that we don't know his limit yet," Ben Hayes told The Verdict podcast. "Since we've had him, he's had four starts for four wins and improved with every start. His win the other day (in the Gilgai) was probably his most dominant. He was first-up, with plenty of improvement to come. He's drawn a beautiful gate, we know where the speed is and he maps to get a beautiful run. "If something does go wrong with Dad's horse (Ka Ying Rising), it wouldn't surprise if he was able to be very, very competitive. His final gallop was excellent and he'll be there to run a big race. He is definitely not there to make up the numbers, that's for sure."