‘He’ll have to improve a lot to beat the old man’s horse’: Hayes boys eye Everest shock against dad’s star

Ben Hayes believes the Everest barrier draw should give War Machine every chance to sit on the hammer of his father’s superstar, Ka Ying Rising, and get a great run into the finish of the $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Whether War Machine can go past the Hong Kong sensation, trained by Ben’s dad, David Hayes, is another thing.

War Machine, trained by Ben and his brothers, Will and JD, at the family’s famous Lindsay Park stable in Victoria, was one of the big winners in Tuesday’s draw, gaining gate four, and is into $11 with Sportsbet. Ka Ying Rising, the world’s highest-rated sprinter with 14 wins from 16 starts, all at Sha Tin in Hong Kong, is a $1.70 favourite after drawing gate seven.

Ka Ying Rising is expected to get forward early, along with Mazu (gate two) and Overpass (nine), to set what could be a hot tempo for others to surge late.

Ben was pleased with the draw for War Machine, which has won all four starts for the stable, including a sharp first-up finish to claim the group 2 Gilgai Stakes on October 4 and earn Coolmore’s Everest slot.

“It definitely helps,” Ben, David’s eldest son, said. “It just means he can jump, just be where he’s comfortable and get a nice run in transit and hopefully hit the line nice and strong. We’re very happy with him.

“I thought his first-up run was very exciting. He did it with a big weight and he won really dominantly, and he looks like he’s improved out of it.

“He’ll have to improve a lot to beat the old man’s horse, but we think he’s a genuine top-three chance.”

As for getting a gun run in behind Ka Ying Rising, he said: “We’d really hope so. I think it’s a pretty obvious speed map. There’s speed with Ka Ying Rising and Overpass out wide and Mazu goes forward, so we’ll be forward of midfield and having a nice run, and being given every chance.”

As for going past Ka Ying Rising, if he is not at his best, he said: “Let’s hope so, but I think he’s going good.”

The Hayes brothers know Ka Ying Rising well. They briefly trained the unraced gelding, now five, and it was obvious he had potential. Ben said he was one of at least 20 they had sent on to the Hong Kong operation.

“To be fair, he was bought from New Zealand out of a trial, and when he was with us, he always showed ability,” he said.

“He didn’t lose many gallops and all his trials, he did it quite naturally. When he went up there [Hong Kong], we thought he was the best one we’d sent, but we didn’t think it would be the best in the world, that’s for sure.

“We half feel like he’s part of the family, so if either wins, I know Dad will be proud, and we’ll be proud if Dad’s horse wins.

“It’s kind of cool, it’s the first time we’ve had a horse competing against Dad. If we are able to beat him, it would be very fun.”

The Hayes brothers also have a genuine hope in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick with Mr Brightside ($4.80). He drew barrier 12, but Ben is confident the on-pace runner can still feature.

“When he won a Doncaster, he drew 17,” Ben said. “It’s a small field, we know the race shape, with Pride Of Jenni in it. [Jockey] Craig [Williams] knows what to do, he knows the horse, and we know the horse is spot on.”