Ka Ying Rising suffered an agonising defeat in his bid for back-to-back wins in the world’s richest turf race, the A$20 million (HK$109.17 million) The Everest, after Tempted managed to hold on by a neck at Randwick on Saturday.

The world’s best racehorse was looking to extend his Hong Kong record of 21 consecutive wins, but jockey Zac Purton was forced to settle in midfield from a wide draw and despite coming home with a strong surge, he missed by a small margin.

Tempted, trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by former Hong Kong-based jockey Chad Schofield, drew barrier one and after settling in the box seat behind the leader, he peeled into the clear in the straight and clung on late.