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How Black Caviar-like Ka Ying Rising exceeded Purton's expectations
Connor Scanlon • September 8th, 2025 4:15 pm
The Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising ticked off his first hurdle ahead of his trip to Australia, winning by 2.3 lengths in a Class 1 Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Hong Kong superstar started his campaign by running the 1200m in an impressive 1:07 seconds.
SENTrack and RSN’s Gareth Hall was in awe when watching the gelding’s first-up run.
“Ka Ying Rising, I was watching it with some friends for Father’s Day,” Hall said.
“It was just goosebumps type of stuff.
“And the question mark whether he could do it on a rain-affected track – it was raining during that race – he did it easily, with a big weight.
“Bring on The Everest.”
Form analyst Peter Anthonisz echoed Hall’s synopsis, describing the five-year-old as “special”.
“It’s pretty special, isn’t it," he said.
“The more the seasons change the more things stay the same up there, with Zac Purton and Ka Ying Rising destroying everyone.
“It will be fascinating to see how he goes in Australia.”
Ka Ying Rising then received the highest praise by expert form analyst David Gately who compared the mare to the legendary Black Caviar.
“I haven’t seen this sort of sprinting excellence since Black Caviar I’m afraid,” said Gately.
“How do you run (that) time without any effort?”
Jockey Zac Purton, the regular rider of Ka Ying Rising, joined SENTrack and RSN’s Giddy Up to talk about the impressive return of the sprinter.
“It’s a good way to start the season, very exciting to have Ka Ying Rising back and even better to see him come back as good as he has,” Purton exclaimed.
“I was in a bit of a flap in the days leading up to the race meeting watching the weather.
“But the track just raced so well, it didn’t feel like it was rain-affected at all (for Ka Ying Rising’s race).”
The 42-year-old attributed the Ka Ying Syndicate horse's brilliance to its controllability and versatility.
“His versatility is what sets him apart from other horses, especially sprinters,” Purton said.
“With sprinters if you give them a signal, they can just go flat out and run or become a little bit uncontrollable, but this guy is very push-button.
“You can dig him up, ask him to come back, lead, sit outside lead, take a sit.
“He is the easiest horse I’ve ridden, as a sprinter, in my career.”
Purton even admitted that the David Hayes-trained star exceeded his expectations with how easily he won.
“He did (exceed my expectations),” Purton admitted.
“Because he had to give 20 pounds away to the majority of the field. So, that’s not easy in itself.
“Just to do it the way that he does it and run the time that he does (is unbelievable).
“What I was most impressed about was looking at him in the parade ring. He just looks like a different horse now, he’s furnished, he’s stronger.
“He’s really taken that next step which we were hoping he would take.”
The 13-time Group 1 winning jockey even revealed that Ka Ying Rising performs better on dirt tracks, then it does on grass.
“I think this horse is even better on the dirt than he is on the grass,” revealed Purton.
“Mate, the way he works in the morning, it’s like he’s not even moving.
“He just glides across the track on the dirt.
“If there was enough money in the Breeders’ Cup, we’d probably take him there and run him on the dirt. (But) you’re not going to be going to America for a couple of peanuts.”
When asked about the toughest challenges ahead of him in The Everest, Purton admitted that every horse will have their chance in the $20 million race.
“Briasa, Private Harry, Lady Shenandoah, they’re the ones that probably stick out the most,” Purton said.
“Obviously, Jimmysstar gets back, speed will be on, he’ll get his chance to close strong – the race will certainly be run to suit him.
“It’s not gonna be a slowly run race, put it that way.
“Every horse is going to get their chance.”
Ka Ying Rising is currently $1.80 with Sportsbet to take out The Everest, but champion trainer Wayne Hawkes believes that price is far too short for the Hong Kong jet.
“I don’t think he’s a $1.80 pop myself,” said Hawkes.
“I couldn’t have him at $1.80 only because you’re so far away from the race and things are going to happen, things are going to change.”
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