Hayes Pours Faith in Ka Ying Rising to Shatter Randwick Record After 'Scare'

Trainer David Hayes Dismisses Rumours About Ka Ying Rising

Trainer David Hayes has firmly denied any claims that Ka Ying Rising is not in top form ahead of the $20 million Everest, calling the allegations "fake news." The Hong Kong-based sprinter, who is the favourite for the prestigious race, is expected to perform at his best on Saturday.

Hayes emphasized that the horse is not only fit but also ready to make a strong statement by potentially breaking the Randwick track record. If everything goes according to plan, Ka Ying Rising could achieve a time that will be remembered for years to come.

The recent social media frenzy surrounding the horse was completely unexpected for Hayes. The speculation about the horse's condition created a major stir in Hong Kong, where Ka Ying Rising has a huge following.

"I used a Donald Trumpism, it’s fake news," Hayes said when asked about the online rumors. "I got a call from my son JD on Sunday. Gareth Hall, a Melbourne radio personality, had contacted him and said his Twitter account had been hacked. The false information suggested that the horse was scratched, lame, and not eating."

The situation caused a significant amount of stress for the trainer, with the phone ringing non-stop for about six hours. Initially, Hayes found the situation amusing, but after three hours, he decided to take action.

Bookmakers React to the Chaos

Bookmakers took a cautious approach during the social media storm, temporarily suspending betting on the Everest before reopening the markets with Ka Ying Rising as the $1.70 favorite.

Ka Ying Rising has previously broken the 68-second barrier for 1200m on five occasions. The current Randwick 1200m record stands at 67.32 seconds, set by Yes Yes Yes in the 2019 Everest.

Jockey Zac Purton has yet to fully unlock the horse's potential, despite Ka Ying Rising's impressive record of 14 wins in 16 career starts, including 13 consecutive victories.

"Zac believes the horse is capable of breaking his own record whenever he wants," Hayes said. "Normally, you don't go for records because there's no extra reward, but if the conditions are right on the weekend, he'll give it a shot."

When pressed further, Hayes added: "When he's in top form, his last 13 runs have either broken the record in Hong Kong or nearly done so while easing down. He consistently runs near track-record times."

Purton has also noted that the horse still has room for improvement, although he occasionally makes mistakes. "He always talks about being on the wrong leg," Hayes said. "When he changes legs, that's when he really comes into his own – and Zac thinks that's when he'll break the track record."

A Trainer's Dream

David Hayes, who returned to Hong Kong in 2020 for a second stint as a trainer, considers Ka Ying Rising to be the best horse he has ever trained. He even ranks the sprinter above champion Better Loosen Up.

Last year's Everest winner, Bella Nipotina, started her career under Hayes before he left Australia. The trainer expressed confidence in Ka Ying Rising's performance, especially after the horse's recent trial at Randwick.

A large crowd attended the trial, which saw Ka Ying Rising finish third. This result left punters divided, with some questioning whether the bookmakers had overestimated the horse's chances.

"The idea of the trial was to bring him on, and I think he has," Hayes said. "He ran home in 38 seconds under a nice hold, and his recovery was excellent. He's improved significantly from his trial."

"If we trialled him today, he would be a nine out of 10, or a 10 out of 10," Hayes added. "He's made the progress we expected. We're anticipating a bold performance. A firm track will definitely help."