James McDonald, the only jockey so far to inflict defeat on Ka Ying Rising, has declared the world’s top-rated sprinter “an absolute superstar” but warns the Hong Kong champion will need to be at his best to win the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) on Saturday (18 October) at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia.

McDonald, who twice toppled Ka Ying Rising on Wunderbar at Sha Tin in January, 2024, will ride Chris Waller’s Joliestar this weekend and believes The Everest’s unrelenting pressure will present a formidable challenge to Ka Ying Rising.

“He’s a superstar, he’s an absolute superstar. If he brings his Sha Tin form, he’s almost sometimes impossible to beat the way his figures read. I’ve ridden some good horses against him and he’s made them look pretty second rate, to be fair,” McDonald said.

“But this is a different kettle of fish. This is probably the toughest test to date for him and he’s going to know he’s in a horse race, especially with the likes of Jimmysstar, Briasa, Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah coming at him. He’s going to have to be at the top of his game.”

McDonald is chasing his second victory in The Everest after triumphing on Waller’s Nature Strip in 2021.

Waller has three runners in Saturday’s feature – Joliestar, Lady Shenandoah and Angel Capital – and welcomes the presence of Ka Ying Rising.

“The best thing about Ka Ying Rising being in the race is that it brings an international flavour to this year’s event and that’s what we want to see here in Australia – we’ve got the best sprinters in the world and we take them overseas and normally get it right,” he said.

“So, to see the horse coming here with the world’s highest rating, Australia has got something to prove.

“There’s so much international flavour but having that gives more credit to the race, it’s taking the world by imagination and everybody will be watching The Everest on Saturday afternoon and let’s hope that Australia – our horses – can beat Ka Ying Rising because he’s a superstar.”

Ka Ying Rising will start from barrier seven under Zac Purton on Saturday (18 October).