Romantic Warrior was Hong Kong’s first winner in Australia for over 18 years when he did the almost unthinkable and snared the 2023 Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley in Melbourne.

Less than two years later, Ka Ying Rising stands on the verge of a piece of his own history as he looks to become the first international winner of the Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday.

Plenty of questions have been asked about the $1.75 favourite’s readiness for The Everest since he ran only fairly in a Randwick trial last week and there is no doubt making the trip to Sydney to tackle some of the world’s best sprinters is Ka Ying Rising’s biggest test yet.

After undergoing pre-departure scans and four weeks of quarantine, Ka Ying Rising emerged a touch above his racing weight and hasn’t been able to undertake his regular swimming exercise like in Hong Kong.

Throw in the prospect of the potential for a softer track than he’s used to and different pre-race protocols that enable the public to be much closer to Ka Ying Rising for much longer than in Hong Kong – he was agitated even before trialling at Randwick – and it becomes easy to see why many are so quick to make a case against the world’s best sprinter.

None of it will matter, however, if the four-time Group One winner produces anything close to his best on Saturday afternoon.

“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,” said jockey Zac Purton.

“I’ve ridden a lot of good horses in my life and I know how good I think he is and I know how good 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.”

Purton has often spoken about the Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m) being the final big box he’d like to tick in his illustrious career, but he admits victory in the A$20 million (HK$100 million) The Everest could be just as sweet.

“It would sit right up there alongside [a Melbourne Cup]. The rate The Everest has grown in Australia has been quite phenomenal,” said Purton.

“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.”

As many as 50,000 people will pack into Randwick for the world’s richest turf race, with the David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising to tackle a home team led by Chris Waller-trained pair Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah, Ciaron Maher’s Jimmysstar, Briasa for Team Hawkes and War Machine under the tutelage of Hayes’ sons Ben, Will and JD.

Representing the Hong Kong Jockey Club after officials struck a deal with the Australian Turf Club to use its slot in The Everest, Ka Ying Rising will jump from gate seven in pursuit of the A$7 million first prize and his 14th victory on the trot, a barrier Hayes described earlier in the week as “perfect”.

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

“Mazu inside will show a bit of speed and Overpass outside will be looking to go forward, so I’ll just let him 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.”

As for Ka Ying Rising’s condition, Hayes had no concerns after the horse’s final piece of work on Thursday morning. “He was terrific. We’re pretty confident that he’s right up with his best,” Hayes said.