Trainer David Hayes is adjusting his approach for Ka Ying Rising as the champion sprinter prepares for another attempt at The Everest, the world’s richest turf race. Ka Ying Rising narrowly missed victory last weekend, finishing a half-neck second to Tempted in the Group One sprint at Randwick. The result ended the nine-time Group One winner’s remarkable streak of 21 consecutive wins, a record for a Hong Kong-trained horse, which had been unbeaten since January 2024.

Hayes attributed the loss primarily to an outside barrier draw, which forced Ka Ying Rising into a wide run. The horse ran strongly late in the race but was unable to overcome the disadvantage. Hayes also noted the horse’s tendency to “stargaze” or lose focus around the Randwick turn, an issue he believes has hindered previous performances there, including last year’s Everest and recent trials. To address this, Hayes plans to trial Ka Ying Rising wearing blinkers, hoping the equipment will improve the horse’s concentration.

“I just think it was the barrier,” Hayes said, explaining that the horse became lost exiting the turn, a pattern seen in earlier outings at Randwick. “If the real Ka Ying came forward, he would have picked that up no question. For some reason, he needed way more to wake him up.” While considering the blinkers a potential solution, Hayes does not intend to change the timing or location of future runs, emphasizing that the horse’s fitness was not an issue.

Ka Ying Rising has returned to Hong Kong for a fortnight of quarantine at Sha Tin following the race. His next scheduled start is in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200 meters) next month, followed by the Group One Hong Kong Sprint in December. Hayes suggested conducting a practice trial with blinkers in Hong Kong before sending the horse back to Australia for the next Everest attempt.

Hayes also highlighted that Ka Ying Rising’s performance tends to be stronger at Sha Tin compared to Randwick, citing other examples of elite racehorses that similarly favor particular tracks. He praised the runner-up Tempted’s affinity for Randwick but remains confident in Ka Ying Rising’s future prospects.

Meanwhile, another notable Hong Kong runner, Voyage Bubble, will be entered in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup over 2,000 meters next month after a disappointing last-place finish in Monday’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600 meters). Despite carrying a top weight of 135 pounds, the multiple Group One winner’s poor performance led stewards to require a barrier trial before his next race.

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai downplayed concerns about Voyage Bubble’s form, noting that the horse has historically delivered lackluster results in his first starts of the season. Yiu attributed the recent defeat to a combination of the wide barrier draw, the hefty weight assignment, and condition issues, but emphasized there are no physical problems with the horse. The decision to step up in distance to 2,000 meters reflects a strategic move to optimize Voyage Bubble’s returning campaign.