Defending Everest champion Ka Ying Rising is back in contention for next month’s The Everest, with trainer David Hayes saying the horse is performing even better than during his previous winning campaign. Hayes believes Ka Ying Rising is at least “10 per cent better” than last year and expects audiences to see a standout performance at the $20 million sprint.

All outlets describe the same core message: Ka Ying Rising is preparing for his title defense, and Hayes frames the horse’s current form as an improvement that could translate into another high-level race. While the articles use optimistic language, they mainly rely on the trainer’s assessment rather than presenting new, contrasting evidence or specific race-day details.

The reporting is consistent across outlets from Brisbane and Sydney to Melbourne, with no meaningful differences in the underlying facts. The shared emphasis is on the horse’s return, Hayes’s performance estimate, and the anticipation around The Everest as a premier event.