Ka Ying Rising wins The Everest, first internationally trained winner

Ka Ying Rising, a Hong Kong-trained sprinter ridden by Zac Purton and prepared by trainer David Hayes, won The Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday, becoming the first internationally trained horse to take the A$20 million Group 1 sprint. The five-year-old Shamexpress gelding took the lead early in the straight and held on to win by about 1 1/4 lengths over Godolphin filly Tempted, with Jimmysstar third, in front of roughly 50,000 spectators.

Sent off the favourite, Ka Ying Rising covered the 1,200 metres in 1:08.13 on good-rated turf. The race drew heavy betting interest, with more than A$8 million invested in the World Pool, a record for the event. Purton described the result as among his most satisfying, saying he did not think the horse was at his best but that "he did not need to be." Trainer David Hayes echoed relief at the outcome, saying he would have been "shattered" if the horse had lost and that the victory was the biggest thrill of his life.

The win ended a tense build-up in Sydney after Ka Ying Rising produced an underwhelming trial during a 10-day stay in New South Wales and faced social media speculation about a possible withdrawal. Hayes and the connections had...