Ka Ying Rising continued his flawless preparation towards his return in next Sunday’s Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) with another dazzling trial at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Last season’s Hong Kong Horse of the Year clocked a time of 56.45 up the 1,000m straight under Zac Purton, with the champion jockey never extending the five-year-old to win by two lengths.

It was another step towards his ultimate goal of the A$20 million The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick on October 18, and trainer David Hayes was suitably impressed as he passed another routine test.

“It was a pleasure to watch, so fluent and his action was perfect, and the most important thing is mentally he’s more mature this year,” said Hayes.

Ka Ying Rising leaves some smart rivals trailing in his wake in a Sha Tin barrier trial.

“Last year, if you watched the trials, he was jumpy and out of his skin a bit – too fresh. This year he’s walking around like you’d want him to walk around.

“He was, of course, under strict instructions not to win by more than a length, and I think he broke that! To run that time with his eyes shut is pretty impressive.

“I think he’s a more mature horse now so he’s always going to be heavier than last year, but his racing weight was between 1135lb and 1,140lb, and today he was at 1,160lb, so he’s a bit above his weight.

“He’ll come down but I want a bit of wiggle room for travelling, and I think by Everest time we’ll have him around 1150.”

Purton, who will be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday night, gave Hayes a glowing report post-trial in what is likely to be a scary omen for Ka Ying Rising’s rivals in the season ahead.

“Zac is a pessimist but even he was happy,” added Hayes. “He was thrilled with his manners behind the gates. He changed legs – that’s the only criticism Zac has of him as he never changes legs, but when you don’t get under pressure you don’t have to. Today he thinks he changed legs, which is a good sign.”

Meanwhile, in the annual jockeys’ sprint race, serial winner Karis Teetan was dethroned by James Orman and Derek Leung Ka-chun.

A botched baton handoff off with running-mate Britney Wong Po-ni put paid to their chances, with Hugh Bowman – running with Jerry Chau Chun-lok – cruelly run down by Orman in the final strides.

Bowman did manage to hold off fast-charging Brenton Avdulla in a photo finish for second.

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