David Hayes has flagged concerns that Ka Ying Rising may not appear at the Melbourne Cup Carnival due to what he describes as unnecessary scanning protocols that could hinder the horse’s spring campaign.

The Hong Kong-based trainer is eager to bring the rising star to Flemington for the Champions Sprint, but says the requirement for a second CT scan—after contesting the Group 1 The Everest (1200m) in Sydney and completing quarantine—is a major obstacle.

“It is madness,” Hayes said ahead of Ka Ying Rising’s run in Sunday’s Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin.

“The Everest and Flemington are both options if he is an Everest winner and pulled up well.

“I haven’t got my head around all the protocols but we are happy to do the first scan before he leaves (Hong Kong) – tick, and you would think that would be enough.

“If you take a horse out of his quarantine for an unneeded scan and he is a last start winner, and the horses that he will be racing won’t be (required to do it), it needs to be looked at.

“You don’t have to scan a horse to see that it is sound.”

Racing Victoria confirmed that Ka Ying Rising would still need to be scanned again before starting at Flemington, even after running without issue in The Everest. A loophole that once allowed Sydney runners to bypass further scans after quarantine was removed in 2024.

Hayes, who trained the 1994 Melbourne Cup winner, is adamant Ka Ying Rising is peaking in his preparation, saying the gelding is “four or five lengths better” than when he won the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) last December.

He views Japanese sprinter Satono Reve and Helios Express from the Mark Newnham stable as key rivals once again—having filled the top three spots in the Hong Kong Sprint with only a length between them.

“The whole team feels that he is a better horse now,” Hayes said. “It must be remembered that he is only four-years-old and I think he is going into his golden year next year.”