Already one of the most decorated jockeys on the international stage, Zac Purton says success aboard Ka Ying Rising in the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) on Saturday (18 October) at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia would represent a career pinnacle.

With a record 1,897 Hong Kong wins and 47 Group 1 victories around the world, Purton said victory in The Everest “would sit right up there”.

“The rate that it (The Everest) has grown in Australia has been quite phenomenal. The field they get every year, the interest the race creates and the money that it’s worth, it’s up there with the elite races in the world now,” the eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey said.

“My phone doesn’t normally ring as much as it has been in the past week. I’ve done a lot of interviews – radio, video, journalists calling – and then I’ve just been watching a lot of it on social media myself.

“It’s great to see how much attention it’s created in the mainstream media in Australia. They’ve really grabbed hold of him (Ka Ying Rising) and grabbed hold of the race. It’s putting a lot of extra eyeballs on our sport, which is a good thing.

“I can’t remember a race and especially a horse going into a race with as much attention as what he’s been able to create. It’s been good but obviously we have a job to do and that’s what I’m more concerned about.”

Purton is happy with Ka Ying Rising’s barrier draw of seven as the gelding bids to become the first international to land the world’s richest turf race.

“I think the barrier is pretty good. I would have preferred to have drawn inside Lady Shenandoah (gate six) and Joliestar (five) but I still think it’s OK,” he said.

“Mazu (gate two) inside will show a bit of speed and Overpass (nine) outside will be looking to go forward, so I’ll just let him (Ka Ying Rising) show whatever speed he wants to show and just ride him how the race is unfolding and how he feels like he wants to be ridden.”

Purton is cautiously optimistic Ka Ying Rising has improved physically under trainer David Hayes’ guidance since his third in a 1000m barrier trial at Royal Randwick last week.

“I haven’t been on him so it’s hard for me to get a proper understanding of how much he’s tightened up and how he feels, but David is happy with him and his weight seems to be in a better place,” Purton said. “He’s had the extra piece of work … so hopefully that’s enough.

“I just hope for the horse’s sake that the real Ka Ying Rising turns up on the weekend because I think he deserves it. I’ve ridden a lot of good horses in my life, and I know how good I think he is.

“I just hope that version of Ka Ying Rising is the version that turns up on the weekend. He doesn’t need to destroy them – he just needs to get the job done. He’s got the weight of expectation from the market as well, so we’re not the only ones that hope the real one turns up.”

After supervising Ka Ying Rising’s final pre-race fast work at Canterbury Racecourse on Thursday (16 October), Hayes said: “He was terrific today. He just did his final piece of striding work, really having a good roll and feeling good after it, so we’re pretty confident that he’s right up with his best.”

The Everest is carded as S1-2 and will be run at 1.15pm (Hong Kong time).