David Hayes is adamant Ka Ying Rising will have Tentyris covered as talk of a clash later this year between Hong Kong’s superstar and Australia’s new sprint sensation in The Everest (1,200m) intensifies.

Fresh from his record-breaking 18th straight win in last Sunday’s Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m), Ka Ying Rising will have two more local starts before Hayes turns his attention to defending his crown in the A$20 million (US$14.3 million) The Everest at Randwick in October.

Tentyris has been touted as a potential threat to the world’s best sprinter since the three-year-old colt’s barnstorming victory in the Group One Lightning Stakes (1,000m) at Flemington on February 14.

Owned by global racing and breeding giant Godolphin, Tentyris improved his record to five wins from eight starts when he charged from last to win the Lightning Stakes.

Overseas fixed-odds markets rate Tentyris a $6 second favourite for The Everest, with Ka Ying Rising a dominant $1.70.

“I’ve been asked by quite a few people and I’m sure at two and three years old, Tentyris would have Ka Ying covered,” Hayes said.

“But from three years old to four, Ka Ying put on 100lbs (45kg) and he’s now an out-and-out champion. Will Tentyris be that good at five years old? It’s a lot to improve when you’re that good at two and three. I think it’s unfair on Tentyris to compare.”

Ka Ying Rising smashed Sha Tin’s 1,400m record by 0.56 seconds when he dominated his rivals by 3½ lengths last Sunday.

He surpassed the great Silent Witness’ record of 17 consecutive victories and also became the first Hong Kong horse since Indigenous in 1998 to reach a local rating of 140.

Past champions Beauty Generation and Able Friend got as high as 138, Silent Witness’ best rating was 132 and current hero Romantic Warrior, who chases a 13th Group One success in Sunday’s Gold Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin, is rated 136.

“He pulled up the best of my eight runners from Sunday and he ate the most, so he’s wonderful,” Hayes said.

“Sources tell me he ran the fastest 1,400m recorded from a standing start anywhere, so he’s getting to that very special range, isn’t he?”

Ka Ying Rising has earned more plaudits from international ratings experts, with the UK’s Racing Post placing him ahead of the best sprint performance recorded by former Australian champion Black Caviar and America’s Dayjur.

Australian form analyst Daniel O’Sullivan said Ka Ying Rising was capable of reaching higher levels in the future.

“What stands out is that he is still trending upwards,” O’Sullivan said. “When his career is viewed in blocks of starts, each phase has produced a higher peak than the one before it.

“We’ve known for some time that he’s world class, but he’s now building a generational legacy that will be remembered long after this current era of racing.”

Ka Ying Rising’s next start will be in the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) at Sha Tin on April 6.