It's Everest week! The world's richest turf race returns to Royal Randwick, with a star-studded field chasing sprinting glory and the $20 million prize pool.
Can defending champion Ka Ying Rising make it back-to-back wins, or is there a challenger ready to dethrone the Hong Kong superstar? We run the rule over all 12 runners, breaking down the ticks and knocks for each horse ahead of Saturday's big race.
TAB fixed odds correct as of 9am AEDT, 15th October 2026 (please visit tab.com.au for the latest).
1. Ka Ying Rising (11) - $1.50
The tick: Winner last year. Currently the best horse in the world and arrives off a track-record performance at Sha Tin. Repeat that form and he wins comfortably.
The knock: He's untested on a genuine wet track.
2. Jimmysstar (8) - $13.00
The tick: Huge turn of foot and finished third in this race last year after racing wide. Comes off a blistering win in the Group 1 Manikato and handles rain-affected ground.
The knock: His natural get-back racing pattern means he's likely to concede a head start to key rivals.
3. Giga Kick (12) - $31.00
The tick: Proven sprinter and previous Everest winner as a three-year-old who handles the wet. Like the blinkers going on first time.
The knock: Needs to wind back the clock, just not going the best this prep.
4. Angel Capital (2) - $41.00
The tick: Group 1 winner who has so much X-factor and was one of the strongest through the line in this race last year.
The knock: Much better suited over 1400m and on top of the ground.
5. Caballus (10) - $101.00
The tick: Four wins from five second up and makes his own luck on speed.
The knock: Looks outclassed in this field.
READ: 2026 Caulfield Cup preview
6. Headwall (6) - $51.00
The tick: Racing well. Twice placed at Group 1 level over this distance and you can mount the argument he should have beaten Tempted when held up in the Group 2 Concorde.
The knock: Never won beyond 1000m.
7. Ninja (3) - $21.00
The tick: Eye-catching winner at this track and distance first up. Beat home Ka Ying Rising in a trial last week, will appreciate the juice in the track, and maps to get a soft run.
The knock: This is his toughest test yet.
8. Joliestar (5) - $16.00
The tick: Chris Waller. James McDonald. Grand Final. Thought she was huge in defeat first up in The Shorts. Proven Group 1 performer and draws sweetly in barrier 5.
The knock: Finished fifth in this last year and needs to bridge the gap to a horse who has continued to dominate at the highest level.
9. Tempted (1) - $5.00
The tick: Has produced a blistering turn of foot in her two wins this prep. Her Premiere win was stunning. Runner-up in this last year and never finished worse than second in six attempts at this track and distance. The most credible danger to the favourite on pure ability.
The knock: Her worst case scenario is being buried on the rail and that inside ground is an unknown given the forecast. May need to be ridden for luck.
10. Spicy Martini (4) - $51.00
The tick: She'll handle the rain and wasn't too far away first up in The Shorts behind Mazu.
The knock: Needs to rise to a new level to be competitive here. Equicast on in a high-pressure A-grade sprint race also not ideal.
11. Savvy Hallie (7) - $61.00
The tick: Thought she was solid enough in the Premiere before being given windburn by the winner. Will be up on pace again.
The knock: Even with favours in running, she's 0-4 against Tempted and needs to somehow turn the tables.
12. Blue Door (9) $26.00
The tick: Lightly raced and lightly weighted. Has a heap of tactical speed and plenty of upside, and was a dominant winner last start.
The knock: Faces a significant class test. Contests 1200m for the first time against a really tough field.
SELECTIONS:
1. Ka Ying Rising - $1.50
2. Jimmysstar - $13.00
9. Tempted - $5.00
8. Joliestar - $16.00
Ka Ying Rising has the gate speed to make barrier 11 work, either rolling across to lead or settling outside it. There's plenty of speed drawn underneath him, with Caballus (barrier 10), Blue Door (9), and Savvy Hallie (7) all expected to push forward. The soft track won't be ideal, but he doesn't need to produce his absolute best to win this. He'd need to seriously underperform to get beaten. Tempted looks the main danger, but there's a query surrounding barrier one. She jumped from the inside gate last year, but there'll be more speed in this year's field which raises the risk of her getting trapped on the rail. That said, she's undefeated since last year's Everest and going better now, so I'm conscious I could be overthinking the draw. Jimmysstar should run a beauty, and his best is clearly good enough to win if the favourite runs well below his Hong Kong form. Joliestar is a classy, consistent mare who rarely runs a bad race, while Headwall looks over the odds as a genuine place chance.
