Ka-ching: world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising claims $20 million TAB Everest in international coup

Champion racehorse Ka Ying Rising has justified his title of the world’s best sprinter in a landmark Group 1 $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) success at Randwick, with the Hong Kong superstar beating Australia’s best.

Despite jumping alertly from the barriers, more pace came from Overpass ($41) and Mazu ($126), with Zac Purton restaining the gelding behind the front-runnners to occupy a stalking role.

He remained in that position until the home bend when easing the five-year-old off their coattails and underneath Jimmysstar ($14), who had raced three wide without cover for the duration.

Coaxed along early in the straight, Ka Ying Rising took some time to wind up but gradually ground his way level with Overpass at the 150m, though a cavalry were queuing up behind.

Jimmysstar continued to plug home in determined fashion and now three-year-old filly Tempted ($17) was starting to slice her way through the pack.

But when the call comes, champions respond, and Ka Ying Rising kept up a determined gallop over the late stages, even allowing Purton to ease up over the last 30m as they scored by more than a length.

Godolphin’s decision to run Tempted was justified as she flashed into second place, while Jimmysstar turned in a typically tradesmanlike effort to chin Overpass out of the placings.

“It’s probably the most satisfying win I think I’ve had,” Purton, an Australian but Hong Kong-based jockey, said immediately after the line.

“Carrying the weight of a nation, the weight of the market, the expectation, the ups and downs. To get here and through the week, especially after the trial, we should never doubt him. He’s a superstar.

“I don’t think he was (at his best) but he didn’t need to be, did he?”

The long-time heavy favourite for the event, doubt was cast over Ka Ying Rising’s ability and even his participation in the race after an underwhelming trial effort recently.

That day, he was flustered and sweated up prior to his heat, but like a true sportsman, he handled the bronx cheers of the tens of thousands on course with aplomb.

“He’s got a brain. I know he worked himself up at the trial the other day, and that’s not ideal, but look at him now, as buzzed up as he is,” Purton said.

“The crowd did a good job of buzzing him up before the race - I didn’t expect them to boo him and be as vocal as they were when he came out onto the track.

“It was all the way down until we got to the end of the crowd, but he handled it really well. I was impressed with that and I just love him.

“He’s just such a nice horse to ride.”

Aussie trainer David Hayes, who forged a remarkable career in his home country before moving to Hong Kong in recent seasons, again showed his nous in travelling horses internationally.

The watershed triumph is another trophy in Hayes’ cabinet after travelling Better Loosen Up to land the 1990 Japan Cup, remaining the only Australian horse to ever achieve the feat.

“He held on pretty well and it was a great ride by Zac,” Hayes said.

“I actually would’ve been shattered if he lost today, truth be known, when he was calm an hour before the race.

“I think there’s more to come with this horse.

“It’s certainly the biggest thrill of my life and the longest 10 days in my life, I think.

“(Better Loosen Up) was the last world champion-rated horse I trained, and this is the next one. A lot of good horses in between but these are the two stars.

With the world tote pool in play, Ka Ying Rising started a raging $1.45 elect on that system, a figure Hayes said was “buying money”.

“He blew out all the mothballs and a lot of people were very critical of the trial but he still beat 20 Group 1 winners and ran third not really tested,” he said.

“He was wide throughout and what it did, it was able to let the horse settle and calm down today.

“I wish I was as relaxed. There was no sweat between his legs and he was absolutely perfect.

“That made me feel quietly confident.”

Even Hayes’ sons, Ben, Will and JD, who trained War Machine ($11) for the race, couldn’t help but cheer Ka Ying Rising home up the straight in a true family affair.

Overpass, WA’s adopted hero over recent seasons after his Winterbottom Stakes and Quokka successes in the State, fought on courageously having only been overwhelmed by the placegetters over the concluding part and rewarded the decision of RAM Racing to buy into the slot only days earlier.

He remains a $5.50 second fancy for next month’s Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot behind Jokers Grin ($5), who beat him in this year’s Quokka.