Chris Waller is plotting to halt Ka Ying Rising’s 21-race winning streak in the AU$20 million (approx. HK$109.5 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday (17 October), but the champion trainer believes the Hong Kong superstar remains the horse to beat, despite an awkward barrier draw and the prospect of a heavy track.
Waller will saddle Australia’s champion sprinter Joliestar and Angel Capital, last-start winner of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, and believes the pair has the quality to test Ka Ying Rising, who will start from barrier 11 in the 12-horse field.
The Randwick track was downgraded from Good to Heavy this morning (Wednesday, 14 October) after 66mm of rain on Tuesday (13 October), but Waller says Ka Ying Rising – the world’s top-rated horse – is still the measuring stick ahead of the world’s richest race on turf.
“He’s a superstar, Ka Ying Rising, and superstars generally find ways to get themselves out of trouble and track conditions are one of those things, so he’s certainly the horse to beat,” Waller said.
“It’s just great for the race and great for Australian racing to have horses on the international stage competing with us. It makes our race better. It gives us the chance to beat the horse – it’s our home track compared to him having to travel, so that brings him back a little bit.
“Hopefully, one of the Australian horses can beat him, but it looks a tough ask.
“The weather is not ideal but I think come Saturday it will improve and the tracks in Sydney are racing well. Of course, it won’t be rock-hard but we don’t want that anyway. It will be a forgiving surface and should give all horses their best chance and I’ve got no concerns at all about the track.”
James McDonald will partner Joliestar from barrier five as the mare returns to Group 1 racing for the first time since finishing third behind winner Almeraq and Satono Reve in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in England in June.
“She’s drawn well, which is great. We’ve got James McDonald on board, arguably the world’s best jockey, and she’s in fine form. Her first-up run was good and she’s ready to peak,” Waller said.
“James was disappointed that last year (in The Everest) that things didn’t work out for her (when fifth) and he’s probably thought about it since and we get our chance again this year and he knows her so well.”
Angel Capital will start from barrier two under Ben Melham after finishing sixth in last year’s The Everest.
“Angel Capital was a little bit unlucky in the race last year and he’s gone on and won a Group 1 since then and he’s in career-best form so he’s also drawn a good barrier and with good speed expected, that would really play into the hands of a horse like Angel Capital,” Waller said.
“He’s a big, strong horse. A high-pressure race is what he wants and last year you could say that they went a little bit slower than anticipated. He needs a really high-pressure race.
“Some of the better horses have drawn out wide. They’ll be surging across to find a position, to not cover too much ground. The horses on the inside will be making sure they’re holding their positions or they’ll get put out the back and it will be just a race for the frontrunners, so it’s setting up to be a good contest and it should suit a horse like Angel Capital.”
By Leo Schlink in Sydney
