David Hayes will focus as much on behaviour as performance when Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) contests a barrier trial at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday as the world’s highest-rated horse prepares for his defence of the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) on 17 October.

Hayes is confident Ka Ying Rising will handle next week’s barrier trial outing in a far more composed manner than last year when his pre-trial antics concerned both the dual Hong Kong champion trainer and jockey Zac Purton before the superstar gelding ultimately defeated Australia’s best sprinters to become the first overseas horse to win the world’s richest turf race.

“He has substantially settled in a lot better than last year, and he’s improved since last year, which is reflected in the fact that he’s now a higher-rated horse,” Hayes said.

Ka Ying Rising finished third behind Overpass and Linebacker in last season’s corresponding barrier trial over 1000m and will next week face five horses who are entered in either the The Everest and the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m), which is also run on 17 October.

On Tuesday, he will trial against three potential The Everest rivals – Joliestar, Angel Capital and Ninja – while Amazing Journey and Apocalyptic have been entered for the King Charles III Stakes.

Having guided Ka Ying Rising to a Hong Kong record 21 consecutive wins and an international rating of 135, Hayes will pay close attention on Tuesday to the champion sprinter’s demeanour.

“I want to see him trial like he does in Hong Kong. He doesn’t have to win, but he probably will,” Hayes said.

“I want him to stretch his legs, have a look at Randwick and get used to the surroundings. I want him to get used to being at the racecourse Australian-style – not Hong Kong. It’s just basically a dress rehearsal and I can’t imagine him not trialling very, very well.”

Nine-time Hong Kong champion jockey Purton will partner Ka Ying Rising in Tuesday’s trial, which is scheduled for 9am local time. The barrier trial will be broadcast live on the Club’s online platforms. - Racing.com

Golden Eagle remains the task for Well Written

New Zealand Horse of the Year Well Written (Written Tycoon) remains on track for the A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) after losing her unbeaten record at Randwick.

Well Written finished sixth in the Gr.1 TAB Epsom (1600m) after an eventful run in which she received some buffeting in the straight when trying to mount a challenge.

Trainer Stephen Marsh said Well Written pulled up with “the thumps”, or Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter, a condition that happens when the diaphragm contracts in sync with the heartbeat, resulting in a thumping-like noise.

“I’ve never actually had a horse with the thumps before, but about half an hour later she was good,” Marsh said on Sunday.

“She was a little bit stressed, a little bit overheated; it was quite muggy, but even an hour later she seemed really good and today she’s great. I’m very happy with the way she looks and we’re certainly pushing on to the Golden Eagle.”

Well Written may not have been helped by being caught three-back on the rail, as most of the horses that figured in the finish in the last few races had been running away from the fence.

“They didn’t get a lot of rain but they seemed to get away from the rail very quickly, didn’t they,” Marsh said.

“The track wasn’t bad but it got quite rough in the straight. She came out a bit abruptly and she got pushed around quite a lot. I just think a whole lot of things worked against her – it was also a month between runs. Nothing quite worked out for us.”

In addition, three of the five horses ahead of her, including the winner God’s Window, carried 50kg to her 55kg – she would have been at least 7kg better off at weight-for-age – and the only two horses ahead of her with higher weights were Ceolwulf and Tom Kitten, multiple Group One winners at a mile that have won nearly A$17 million between them.

“The weight was always a little bit of a question mark. It was a lot of weight for a mare, for sure,” Marsh said.

“But she certainly didn’t disgrace herself by any stretch of the imagination, and though there were some good horses in front of her, there were also some bloody good horses behind her.”

Marsh said no decision had been made yet about whether her Epsom jockey Zac Lloyd would be aboard for the Golden Eagle.

Back at home, Marsh’s three-year-old Shambo Jack (NZ) (Shamexpress) put himself into contention for spring features when breaking his maiden in style over 1400m at Matamata.

Third in the Listed Timberspan Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at his previous start, Shambo Jack came from well back to defeat the well-regarded Cambridge Stud filly Joyeuse by a head.

“I thought he won really well. It was a nice field of three-year-olds,” Marsh said.

“He’s a horse I’ve always really liked and he’s a better horse now we’re riding him off the speed. We’ve probably been riding him a bit handy.”

Shambo Jack will now be set for the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on October 26, where a good effort will likely persuade Marsh to head south for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

“Looking at him yesterday, you’d think a mile at Riccarton would be right up his alley,” Marsh said.

Shambo Jack will be joined in the Sarten Memorial by Raymond (NZ) (Ardrossan), the third placegetter in the Gr.2 The Foxes @ Novara Park Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), who will also be on trial for the 2,000 Guineas.

“Raymond looks a really progressive horse and was really good in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. They’re two promising three-year-olds.” - Alastair Bull LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Saintly Dancer has Hawkins dreaming of Guineas glory

The Hawkins family are hoping Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark's Basilica) can go a couple of places better than former star graduate Lickety Split in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.

The Wentwood Grange-bred filly emerged as a leading contender with a dominant six-length win in the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

It was a familiar result for the Cambridge nursery, which won the same race four years ago with Lickety Split (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who subsequently finished third in the Thousand Guineas.

“Lickety Split ran third in her race before the Manifold, won the Manifold, and then finished third in the Thousand Guineas,” Dean Hawkins said.

“Saintly Dancer was better in that she was second in her race before the Manifold, so hopefully she can go a couple of places better in the big one.”

Saintly Dancer is out of the winning So You Think mare Thinkyoudance, who Wentwood Grange bought for A$22,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale.

“My father bought her out of the ring because she just looked like So You Think,” Hawkins said.

The mare was sent to Australia to visit St Mark’s Basilica, a mating Wentwood Grange liked on pedigree.

“She was an absolutely beautiful foal, a real strong filly, and we’re very pleased that she went to Ciaron Maher.”

Saintly Dancer was subsequently sold for A$100,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and has now won two of her five starts.

“You couldn’t not be impressed by that effort in the Manifold,” Hawkins said.

“Rounding the corner she just looked fantastic, and for her to go on and win by five or six lengths is what you always just hope for.”

Thinkyoudance has had mixed fortunes since producing Saintly Dancer. Her Sword Of State filly sold for $50,000 in Book 1 at Karaka earlier this year, but she subsequently slipped to Shamexpress and lost a Derryn foal this spring.

“That’s breeding, unfortunately. But she’s pencilled in to visit Paddington this year; it’s a similar cross to So You Think.”

Saintly Dancer is part of a strong crop of three-year-old fillies associated with Wentwood Grange.

The farm also bred Sweetest Thing (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), an $80,000 Karaka purchase who won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m), while Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) winner Hawea (Hellbent) was sold through its Karaka draft for $300,000.

“We also sold another stakes winner that year in Back Of The Bus, so it’s been a very good crop of fillies from our drafts that year,” Hawkins said.

Both Sweetest Thing and Hawea could now head towards the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

“We’re very lucky, and we can always dream,” Hawkins said.

Wentwood Grange’s promising young crop was further underlined at Randwick on Saturday when Nonu (NZ) (Anamoe) finished third in the Gr.3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m).

The Anamoe colt out of Pride Of Dubai mare Easifar was bred by Llanhennock Trust and Stephanie Hole and sold for $600,000 from Wentwood Grange’s Book 1 draft at Karaka.

“Bjorn Baker loved him at the sales. He was a lovely, lovely colt, who had a great brain on him,” Hawkins said.

“Anamoe was sixth on his debut and for him to be doing this in those early hype races is fantastic for the farm and for New Zealand.” - NZ Racing Desk