Everest is a different kettle of fish: McDonald

SYDNEY James McDonald has declared the world's top-rated sprinter Ka Ying Rising "an absolute superstar" but warns the Hong Kong champion will need to be at his best to win the A$20 million (S$16.8 million) Group 1 The Everest (1,200m) at Royal Randwick on Oct 18.

The multiple Sydney champion jockey, who remains the only rider so far to have inflicted defeat on Ka Ying Rising, will ride Chris Waller's Joliestar in the world's richest turf race this weekend.

McDonald, who twice toppled Ka Ying Rising on Wunderbar at Sha Tin in January 2024, believes The Everest's unrelenting pressure will present a formidable challenge to the 14-time winner.

"He's a superstar, he's an absolute superstar. If he brings his Sha Tin form, he's almost sometimes impossible to beat the way his figures read," said the Kiwi jockey of the Shamexpress five-year-old.

"I've ridden some good horses against him and he's made them look pretty second rate, to be fair.

"But this is a different kettle of fish. This is probably the toughest test to date for him and he's going to know he's in a horse race, especially with the likes of Jimmysstar, Briasa, Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah coming at him.

"He's going to have to be at the top of his game."

McDonald is chasing his second victory in The Everest after triumphing on Waller's Nature Strip in 2021.

Waller has three runners in Saturday's feature - Joliestar, Lady Shenandoah and Angel Capital - and welcomes the presence of Ka Ying Rising.

"The best thing about Ka Ying Rising being in the race is that it brings an international flavour to this year's event and that's what we want to see here in Australia," he said.

"We've got the best sprinters in the world and we take them overseas and normally get it right.

"So, to see the horse coming here with the world's highest rating, Australia has got something to prove.

"There's so much international flavour but having that gives more credit to the race, it's taking the world by imagination and everybody will be watching The Everest on Saturday afternoon and let's hope that Australia - our horses - can beat Ka Ying Rising because he's a superstar."

Waller compared The Everest to an Olympic Games 100m track final.

"All three of ours are, in my eyes, good enough to win the race and every horse will have to be at their best to win the race," he added.

"It's just a great contest. It's not different to an Olympic sprint final - everyone has to be on their game, get a good clean start and have everything go their way and you need to be strong over the last metres of the race.

"There's only going to be two or three metres from first to sixth placing. It's the best of the best coming together on Saturday at Randwick.

"It's an exciting race, the build-up has been huge, it's a sell-out crowd. They're all eager to find out the result."

Waller believes he has the right bullets to play a leading role when the whips will be cracking.

"All I can say is Joliestar, she's a mature mare now, she's in the zone now, great first-up win," said the 15-time Sydney champion trainer.

"Lady Shenandoah is coming off that defeat, but there were legitimate reasons for it and we think she's a rising star and will be there next year in The Everest as well.

"Angel Capital is the unknown. He's a rising star, like Lady Shenandoah, he hasn't won at the elite level yet but the things we see at home on the training track are quite phenomenal and if he brings that to the races from his good draw (three), he could beat them all."

Ka Ying Rising will start from barrier seven under Zac Purton and will face 11 other rivals at 1.15pm Singapore time.

The 42-year-old is happy with Ka Ying Rising's gate as the gelding bids to become the first international to land the glamour race at its ninth renewal.

"I think the barrier is pretty good. I would have preferred to have drawn inside Lady Shenandoah (gate six) and Joliestar (five) but I still think it's okay," said the Australian superstar jockey, who is bidding for his first The Everest victory.

"Mazu (gate two) inside will show a bit of speed and Overpass (nine) outside will be looking to go forward, so I'll just let him (Ka Ying Rising) show whatever speed he wants to show and just ride him how the race is unfolding and how he feels like he wants to be ridden."

Purton is cautiously optimistic Ka Ying Rising has improved physically under trainer David Hayes' guidance since his well-documented third in a 1,000m barrier trial at Royal Randwick last week.

"I haven't been on him, so it's hard for me to get a proper understanding of how much he's tightened up and how he feels, but David is happy with him and his weight seems to be in a better place," he said.

"He's had the extra piece of work, so hopefully that's enough." HKJC