David Hayes remains optimistic about Ka Ying Rising’s chances in Saturday’s Group One The Everest at Randwick despite being assigned the second widest gate, barrier 11, in Tuesday night’s draw at Luna Park in Sydney. The A$20 million (HK$109 million) sprint over 1,200 meters is set to feature challenging conditions, with heavy rain overnight raising concerns about the state of the track.

Ka Ying Rising, the Hong Kong champion and overwhelming $1.40 favorite in international fixed odds markets, aims to secure a record-extending 22nd consecutive victory and become the first horse to win The Everest from gate 11. Although the wide barrier is generally seen as a disadvantage, Hayes expressed confidence in jockey Zac Purton, noting that the loading process at Randwick differs from Hong Kong, where Purton usually rides from the last barrier. “If the tempo’s too fast, he’ll settle second or third, and if it’s slow, he’ll lead,” Hayes said. He pointed out that Randwick’s 1,200-meter course offers a longer run to cross the field compared to Sha Tin, making a wide draw less problematic.

However, the main concern for Hayes is the condition of the track following heavy rainfall in Sydney, which could impact the race outcome. While the forecast predicts improving weather ahead of Saturday, the possibility of a rain-affected surface weighs on the trainer’s mind. “I’d be more worried about a heavy 10 than barrier 11,” Hayes said. He recalled that Ka Ying Rising has previously won on a yielding surface but expressed uncertainty about the horse’s performance on a heavy track, noting differences between Australian and Hong Kong heavy tracks. Hayes added that he would feel apprehensive about heading to the races if the track remained heavy.

Second favorite Tempted drew barrier one and has firmed from $5 in betting markets after the recent rain. The mare, trained in Sydney, was runner-up to Ka Ying Rising last year from the inside gate and has since remained unbeaten in five attempts.

Sydney trainer Joe Pride, who won The Everest in 2023 with Think About It but is not represented this year, praised Ka Ying Rising as the best sprinter he has ever seen. He noted the horse’s dominance and said that unless the track conditions severely impact performance, Ka Ying Rising would be difficult to beat. “The horse is amazing. I wouldn’t be interested in taking him on,” Pride said.

As anticipation builds toward The Everest, Ka Ying Rising’s potential to match last year’s victory hinges not only on overcoming the wide barrier but also on navigating uncertain track conditions following Sydney’s heavy rain.