A rainy week leading into a major race day typically dampens the mood, but for the connections of Ka Ying Rising’s rivals in The Everest, it has been a welcome sign of hope.
While the world’s premier horse remains a solid $1.50 favourite for Saturday’s $20 million sprint, doubts about his ability on a wet track have slightly softened his seemingly invincible reputation.
This is enough to provide contenders like jockey Tommy Berry, whose mount Ninja has two wins and a placing from three starts on rain-affected ground, with a reason to believe it’s not simply a race for second place behind the Hong Kong star.
“The beauty of the rain being around is it gives everyone a chance to dare to dream a little bit,” Berry said.
“If the track was firm, it would probably be a non-event with what he’s done in the past, but he didn’t trial his best on soft going, and he didn’t look overly comfortably.”
Berry’s perspective is informed. He partnered Ninja in that 1000m Randwick trial, where the four-year-old drew level with and then passed Ka Ying Rising to win the heat on a soft 7-rated track.
Although barrier trials and the intensity of race day are quite different, Berry felt Ka Ying Rising appeared vulnerable in the conditions, which are largely foreign to the gelding, as 23 of his 24 starts have been on firm tracks.
“I noticed he wasn’t overly comfortable in it,” Berry stated.
“He just wasn’t able to open the field up in that trial, which is what ‘Ka Ying’s’ best efforts are all about.
“I’m under no illusion. Wet track, dry track, he’s going to be extremely hard to beat. It just allows us to dare to dream a bit more that we’ve got a shot at finishing right up there with him.”
Ninja was the first horse selected for The Everest and will represent the slot held by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, who owns a stake in the gelding.
Berry highlights the critical importance of Ninja getting a good start from barrier three, and he is encouraged by the gelding’s past victory over 1400m at Group level. Saturday’s running of The Everest (1200m) is expected to be a genuine test of speed, with filly Blue Door and Ka Ying Rising likely to set a strong pace.
“With Blue Door and Ka Ying, the way they like to run their races, if it’s a soft track it’s going to make it a test,” Berry commented.
“If you go through every one of my bloke’s replays, he’s never had a horse come from behind him and go past him. He’s very competitive. He’s a line chaser, and if anything comes for him, he lifts.”
Ninja will be Berry’s seventh ride in The Everest, with his best results to date a second aboard Masked Crusader in 2021 and a third with Osborne Bulls in 2018. Have a look at the online bookmakers for the latest odds.