Waller hoping to topple Everest favourite
Champion trainer Chris Waller believes Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) remains the horse to beat in Saturday's A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, despite an awkward barrier draw and the prospect of a rain-affected track.
The world's highest-rated racehorse will be chasing his 22nd consecutive victory when he lines up in the world's richest turf race, having drawn barrier 11 in the 12-horse field.
Waller will saddle Joliestar (Zoustar) and Angel Capital (Harry Angel) in a bid to end the Hong Kong sprinter's remarkable winning streak, but acknowledges the challenge facing his pair.
Randwick was downgraded to the heavy range on Wednesday following 66mm of rain the previous day, although Waller believes the conditions will do little to diminish Ka Ying Rising's chances.
"He's a superstar, Ka Ying Rising, and superstars generally find ways to get themselves out of trouble and track conditions are one of those things, so he's certainly the horse to beat," Waller said.
"It's just great for the race and great for Australian racing to have horses on the international stage competing with us. It makes our race better. It gives us the chance to beat the horse – it's our home track compared to him having to travel, so that brings him back a little bit.
"Hopefully, one of the Australian horses can beat him, but it looks a tough ask.
"The weather is not ideal but I think come Saturday it will improve and the tracks in Sydney are racing well. Of course, it won't be rock-hard but we don't want that anyway. It will be a forgiving surface and should give all horses their best chance and I've got no concerns at all about the track."
Waller is confident Joliestar can produce a strong performance after drawing barrier five, with James McDonald retaining the ride.
The mare returns to Group One company for the first time since finishing third in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June, and Waller believes she is approaching her peak.
"She's drawn well, which is great. We've got James McDonald on board, arguably the world's best jockey, and she's in fine form. Her first-up run was good and she's ready to peak," Waller said.
"James was disappointed that last year (in The Everest) that things didn't work out for her (when fifth) and he's probably thought about it since and we get our chance again this year and he knows her so well."
Stablemate Angel Capital will jump from barrier two under Ben Melham, with the last-start Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) winner returning to the race after finishing sixth last year.
Waller believes the entire has improved since that performance and could benefit from a strongly-run contest.
"Angel Capital was a little bit unlucky in the race last year and he's gone on and won a Group 1 since then and he's in career-best form so he's also drawn a good barrier and with good speed expected, that would really play into the hands of a horse like Angel Capital," Waller said.
"He's a big, strong horse. A high-pressure race is what he wants and last year you could say that they went a little bit slower than anticipated. He needs a really high-pressure race.
"Some of the better horses have drawn out wide. They'll be surging across to find a position, to not cover too much ground. The horses on the inside will be making sure they're holding their positions or they'll get put out the back and it will be just a race for the frontrunners, so it's setting up to be a good contest and it should suit a horse like Angel Capital."
