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The Hong Kong champion runs a huge race but is just unable to reel in the eventual winner

Ka Ying Rising’s record winning streak came to an end in dramatic style in the world’s richest turf race on Saturday after the Hong Kong champion’s agonisingly close defeat in the Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick.

Bidding to win the A$20 million (HK$109.17 million) race for the second straight year, the David Hayes-trained galloper ran on strongly from midfield but fell half a neck short of Temped in second.

Ka Ying Rising was caught wide from barrier 11 under Zac Purton and could not take up his customary position on top of the speed, while Tempted capitalised on a soft run from gate one on the leader’s back.

Former Hong Kong-based jockey Chad Schofield sent Tempted to the lead early in the straight and she surged clear, before holding on late to deny Ka Ying Rising.

Trainer David Hayes said the wide draw ultimately cost Ka Ying Rising, whose record of consecutive wins for a Hong Kong-trained galloper ended at 21.

“He settled a bit further back and wider than I hoped, the winner got a dream run and put five lengths on him and he got beaten a head,” Hayes said.

“So, he was good. He showed a different key to his tricks really, to come from off the pace and finish like that.

“I think if he drew a barrier, he would have been maybe three or four lengths closer and different barrier, different result. But the filly was terrific – she quickened and went through them and loved the ground.

“Sometimes 11 can be a bonus, but he got caught wide. The first and third horses cut the corner and really had dream runs, and we had a horror [run] being six-wide, no cover. But he was brave, and I love the way he finished, but I hate the result.”

Purton said Ka Ying Rising struggled to respond to his riding early in the straight before lifting late.

“I thought it was a very good run, he just got a little bit lost coming into the straight and it felt like he was really struggling but when the horse on the outside came to him, that’s when he clicked into gear and started to give me something,” Purton said.

“He was good to the line – very good heart.

“He prefers [the track to be] dry, but he got through it OK. Every horse that went forward finished out the back so it didn’t work out for them, either.”

Ka Ying Rising will return to Hong Kong to contest next month’s Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) and December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), while Hayes said the nine-time Group One winner “hopefully might come back next year” to avenge his heartbreaking The Everest defeat.

In a thrilling finish, Joliestar was only beaten a neck in third behind $6.50 chance Tempted and the $1.35 favourite Ka Ying Rising.

Tempted turned the tables on Ka Ying Rising from last year’s The Everest and extended her unbeaten streak to six since that defeat.

A change in tactics proved crucial for the Ciaron Maher-trained mare, who settled much closer than usual from her inside draw.

Schofield, who rode more than 200 winners in Hong Kong before relocating to Australia in 2021, was thrilled to topple Ka Ying Rising.

“I normally just ride her to relax and trust her to be far too good late,” Schofield said of Tempted.

“But it was a different race today. We had the world’s best sprinter, the world’s best horse. I had eyes for him, and I knew he wasn’t up there and I held my spot and kept him deep and I’m pretty sure that made Zac to come back.

“From there, I had the perfect trip. I came off from behind the two leaders, and I hit the front very early, a long way out. But she’s such a good horse, she’s so brave and so game.”

Maher was confident Tempted was primed to produce a peak performance, despite conceding Ka Ying Rising was “a freak of nature”.

“I always had an air of confidence she would run her best race today,” Maher said.

“You could see the way she was building through it. Chad knew what he had under him and I felt barrier one was ideal. She had to be at her absolute best and she was.”