By Craig Kerry

Copyright brisbanetimes

“He’s onto his feed, so hopefully he eats well and hydrates well. The next two or three days, if he’s onto his feed and hasn’t lost too much weight, and he settles into his new environment, that’s a big tick. Then the next big tick is how he trials at Randwick [on October 7]. I’d say that’s the most important tick.

“He’ll have a gallop at Canterbury before the trial, but it won’t be for four or five days. You’ll know how he’s doing if he’s on the track in a couple of days, and then if he’s doing fast work by the weekend, he’s thriving.”

The Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer was confident Ka Ying Rising, beaten only twice in 16 starts and on a 13-race winning streak, would handle the trip. He was bred in New Zealand and came to the Hayes family’s Lindsay Park operation in Victoria before starting his career in Hong Kong.

“I had no hesitation to travel him, but coming to Australia, quarantine issues are the main thing,” Hayes said.