By Craig Kerry October 18, 2025 — 5.30am
1. Ka Ying Rising Trainer: David Hayes
Jockey: Zac Purton
Slot-holder: Hong Kong Jockey Club (leased from ATC)
Barrier: 7
Sha Tin specialist or the real deal? The Hong Kong superstar has been the headline act for months, dominating Everest markets and discussions, but can he fire on foreign soil? Bred in New Zealand and originally trained in Victoria by Hayes’ sons at Lindsay Park, Ka Ying Rising has become the King of Sha Tin, racing exclusively on the pristine Hong Kong track, winning 14 of 16 starts, including 13 straight heading into Saturday’s race. The four-time group 1-winner’s performances have raked in more than $10 million and earned the five-year-old son of Shamexpress the rank of world’s best sprinter. Thirteen of his wins have come at the Everest distance, almost all on dry tracks, and his ratings have him well ahead of his rivals on Saturday. Still, doubts persist in some quarters after his third placing behind Linebacker and Everest long-shot Overpass in his only Australian trial, at Randwick, and Purton’s summation of the effort. Unfounded social media posts last weekend declared he was injured and out of the Everest, prompting bookmakers to suspend markets briefly. It has made for great theatre, but his Australian Hall of Fame trainer insists everything is on track. If it is, and he handles the Randwick surface, Ka Ying Rising should simply be too good. If.
Ka Ying Rising having a hit-out at Canterbury. Credit: Steven Siewert
2. Briasa Trainer: Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes
Jockey: Tyler Schiller
Slot-holders: Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett
Barrier: 10
The second horse into the Everest and Team Hawkes seem to be timing his run to perfection. The five-year-old son of Smart Missile was solid first-up in The Shorts (1100m), finishing second to a brilliant run from Joliestar, before taking out another key lead-up at Randwick, the Premiere Stakes, (1200m) two weeks ago ahead of Jimmysstar. A homebred star of long-time breeder Ian Johnson, the grey powered through his grades last season to win six of his first seven starts, culminating in the $1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle. The win announced Briasa as a genuine contender for an Everest slot, which he all but cemented with a breakthrough group 1 victory in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in April. The draw was crucial for Briasa and copping barrier 10 makes his task much tougher, but if Schiller can find cover not too far off the pace, then he remains a winning hope.
3. Overpass Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Josh Parr
Slot-holders:
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