The Everest returns to Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 17, with defending champion Ka Ying Rising aiming to make it back-to-back victories in the $20 million, 1200-metre sprint. Australia’s best sprinters have another chance to challenge the Hong Kong superstar, but he sets a daunting standard.
2026 The Everest race details
- Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Venue: Royal Randwick
- Distance: 1200m
- Prize money: $20 million
- Race conditions: Weight-for-age, 12-slot field
The Everest preview
There is a clear distinction between picking the most likely winner and finding a worthwhile bet in this year’s Everest. Ka Ying Rising has an exceptional record and a proven Randwick performance, but his presence at the top of the market means punters need to be selective about how they approach the race.
Tempted’s latest performance makes the contest more interesting than a one-horse procession. She stormed home from well back to win the Premiere Stakes by almost three lengths, demonstrating the acceleration that could put pressure on the favourite if the race is run at a strong tempo.
The field is assembled through 12 slot holders rather than a conventional qualification system. That makes the final line-up and draw especially important: runners can be selected for their upside or tactical suitability, not just their recent finishing positions.
Ka Ying Rising
Trainer: David Hayes | Jockey: Zac Purton | Weight: 58.5kg
The defending champion is the benchmark. Trained by David Hayes and partnered by Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising arrives after a remarkable run of 21 consecutive wins. His ability to sustain top speed makes him exceptionally difficult to beat if he reproduces his best form at Randwick. The issue for punters is not whether he is the most likely winner, but whether his price offers enough return.
Tempted
Trainer: Ciaron Maher | Jockey: Chad Schofield | Weight: 56.5kg
Godolphin’s representative has been outstanding this year and booked her place with an emphatic Premiere Stakes win. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has nine wins from 14 starts and brings genuine local sprinting form into the contest. She shapes as one of the strongest threats to the favourite.
Jimmysstar
Trainer: Ciaron Maher | Jockey: Nash Rawiller | Weight: 58.5kg
Jimmysstar earned another Everest appearance following his Manikato Stakes success. He finished third in last year’s edition and has the class to be competitive again. Whether he can reverse the form with Ka Ying Rising is the tougher question.
Giga Kick
A former Everest winner, Giga Kick is an established elite sprinter with the ability to produce a powerful finish. His presence adds genuine depth, although his current condition and the expected tempo will be important to his prospects.
Joliestar
Joliestar is another proven high-class sprinter who must be respected if she gets the right run. Her position in the final field and the barrier draw will help determine how much value she offers against the favourite.
Ninja and Headwall
Ninja earned his slot after impressive sprinting performances including a Missile Stakes win, while Headwall gets his Everest opportunity after missing the race through injury last year. Both have upside, but face a substantial rise in the level of opposition.
Blue Door, Spicy Martini and Savvy Hallie
Blue Door is the lightly raced three-year-old with scope to improve, Spicy Martini brings Group 1 credentials, and Savvy Hallie arrives with strong form around Tempted. Their relative weights and barriers will be particularly important when assessing place chances.
How could the race unfold?
The opening 300 metres will be vital. Ka Ying Rising has the tactical speed to take up a prominent position, while several Australian runners are capable of applying pressure. If the leaders overdo it, Tempted’s ability to accelerate from off the speed becomes a major weapon.
Jimmysstar has the versatility to finish strongly, but Nash Rawiller will need to avoid giving the leaders too much of a start. Giga Kick is another who would welcome an honest pace. Conversely, a controlled tempo could allow the favourite to dictate and make it extremely difficult for those settling back.
Barrier positions can change these assumptions dramatically. A wide gate might force a rider to spend energy early, while a low draw could become a disadvantage if a horse is trapped behind slower runners. The speed map will be revisited when barriers are confirmed.
The Everest form lines to follow
2025 Everest
Ka Ying Rising beat Tempted and Jimmysstar in last year’s running, giving us a rare direct comparison between three leading contenders. Reversing that result will require either an improved performance from the challengers or a less favourable race setup for the defending champion.
Premiere Stakes
Tempted’s October 3 victory was especially impressive because she came from the rear of a strong field and won decisively. Savvy Hallie finished second and brings that form into the Everest, although the margin between them is an obvious concern for those backing the outsider.
Manikato Stakes
Jimmysstar’s Group 1 win at Caulfield secured his Everest opportunity and confirmed that he remains in top form. The switch to Randwick and a new rider, Nash Rawiller, add another dimension to his prospects.
The Everest betting tips
Top selection: Ka Ying Rising. His record and proven Everest performance make him the horse to beat.
Main danger: Tempted. Her current preparation has been excellent and she looks the most compelling local challenger.
Others to consider: Jimmysstar and Giga Kick.
Betting approach: A very short-priced favourite is not automatically a good bet. We will wait for verified Dabble markets and the barrier draw before deciding whether there is better value in place or exotic markets.
Finding value in The Everest markets
A short-priced favourite can still be the right winner selection without being the right win bet. The question is whether the market underestimates the possibility of traffic, a wide draw, an unexpectedly strong early pace or a rival producing a career-best run.
For those reluctant to take a very short win price, place and exotic markets may offer alternatives, but the mathematics matter. A trifecta anchored by a dominant favourite can still return poorly if the other popular runners fill the placings. We’ll compare actual Dabble prices before recommending any specific combination.
It is also worth separating the two likely betting questions: who can beat Ka Ying Rising, and who is most likely to finish in the placings behind him? Tempted is the obvious answer to the first, while Jimmysstar, Joliestar and Giga Kick warrant consideration for the second depending on barriers and race conditions.
The Everest odds
Verified Dabble win and place prices will be added when available. Any betting recommendations will be reassessed against the actual market rather than quoted prices from another bookmaker.
The Everest: history and significance
First run in 2017, The Everest has become one of the defining events of the Sydney spring carnival. Its $20 million purse makes it the world’s richest race on turf, and the slot-holder format brings together established champions and emerging sprinters in a way that differs from traditional Group 1 races.
Ka Ying Rising’s 2025 win put him among the event’s standout champions. His attempt to defend the title is the central storyline in 2026, but the strong Australian challenge gives this year’s race genuine depth.
Barrier draw and race-day conditions
With elite sprinters capable of racing on or off the pace, the early speed and barriers will play a major role in the result. Check back for updated selections after the draw, scratchings and track assessment.
Early-week preview. Final field details, barriers and odds will be updated ahead of race day.
