Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising, the odds-on favourite for this year’s $20 million The Everest, has touched down safely in Sydney ahead of his Spring Carnival mission.

The David Hayes-trained sprinter arrived mid-morning on Monday, marking a major milestone in his preparation for the Randwick showpiece on October 18. Reports confirmed the son of Shamexpress travelled smoothly, with Australian Turf Club racing manager Nevesh Ramdhani describing his arrival as a coup for Sydney racing.

“Absolutely, the ratings on this horse after his 13 wins have just been incredible,” Ramdhani said. “In the 10 years we’ve been doing it, I can’t remember another horse that has been rated as highly as he has. It’s also building on the relationship we already have with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and that’s a very important component of why we did it.”

Ka Ying Rising boasts 14 wins from 16 starts, with two runner-up finishes, and has not tasted defeat since January last year. He sits among the world’s elite, carrying a peak Racing And Sports Rating of 132 – a figure matched by Via Sistina in last year’s Cox Plate, and just shy of the career highs of Black Caviar (136) and Winx (134).

After arriving, he was transferred to the Canterbury Quarantine Facility to complete his two-week isolation before stepping out in a Randwick trial on October 7 to fine-tune his Everest preparation.

Ka Ying Rising is the first of several international stars bound for Sydney this week, with last year’s Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest and Sam Hawkens due on Tuesday. Bullet Point will follow on October 14 in the same shipment as Panja Tower, Seagulls Eleven and Luther.

With Ka Ying Rising confirmed on Australian soil, anticipation is building for The Everest, and punters can find the latest markets through leading betting sites.