Tempted Springs an Up-Rising in Everest

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 18, 2026

Tempted, ridden by Chad Schofield, won The Everest turf race at Royal Randwick, narrowly defeating Ka Ying Rising and ending the latter’s 21-race winning streak. The victory not only boosted Tempted’s career earnings past A$14 million but also set the stage for another high-profile rematch between the rivals in the 2027 edition.

Tempted claimed victory over Ka Ying Rising in a closely contested renewal of The Everest, the world’s richest turf race, on October 17 at Royal Randwick in Sydney. The 10th running of the A$20 million (S$17.8 million) Group 1 event drew a record crowd of 52,110 spectators, witnessing a dramatic reversal of the previous year’s quinella.

The Godolphin-trained mare, under jockey Chad Schofield, held off the late challenge from the Hong Kong superstar sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, with Joliestar finishing a close third. Tempted’s win marked her second Group 1 success and propelled her career earnings beyond A$14 million. The victory was also a significant achievement for trainer Ciaron Maher, who had previously won The Everest with Bella Nipotina in 2024.

Maher described the result as a deliberate payoff, saying the mare had “rectified” her defeat from last year and had been undefeated since. He praised Schofield’s ride, noting the advantage gained from drawing barrier one. Schofield, riding Tempted for the first time in a competitive setting, said the race plan differed from usual, as he asked the mare to take the lead early and maintain it despite facing the world’s best sprinter from Ka Ying Rising.

Ka Ying Rising, trained by David Hayes, ended a 21-race winning streak with the narrow runner-up finish. Hayes attributed the loss in part to an unfavorable barrier draw that forced jockey Zac Purton to settle wide without cover. Purton had intended to cross toward the rail but was unable to do so, leaving the Shamrockgrass six-year-old with a more difficult trip throughout the race. Despite the setback, Hayes praised the horse’s courageous performance and the effort of Purton.

Purton acknowledged the horse seemed to struggle entering the final straight but responded well when challenged by Joliestar, finishing strongly despite preferring drier conditions. He characterized Ka Ying Rising as “all heart” and expressed disappointment at the result, though he congratulated Tempted on her win.

The rivalry between Tempted and Ka Ying Rising remains intense, with both connections signaling intentions to return for another showdown in the 2027 edition of The Everest. The race underscored the elite level of sprint racing on the international stage and highlighted strategic factors such as barrier draw and race positioning as decisive elements in the outcome.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.