Ka Ying Rising was beaten by Everest rival Ninja in his final barrier trial before The Everest, on a Slow 7 track at Randwick. Shane Dye was watching. He explains what the Hong Kong sprinter’s ears told him, why he believes the horse doesn’t bring his best game to Australia, and why the trial result may count for little on race day.

Dye also sets out the dilemma facing Chad Schofield on Tempted: sit closer to Ka Ying Rising and blunt her finish, or go back and hope for a bad day from the champion. He explains how a wet track would change those tactics, and why the arrival of Blue Door shouldn’t worry Zac Purton.

Host: Michael Cox, Idol Horse editor
Guest: Shane Dye

Read Shane’s Idol Thoughts column and the rest of our Everest coverage at idolhorse.com.

Chapters

 00:00 Ka Ying Rising’s Everest trial
 00:45 Shane Dye’s instant reaction
 01:42 What his ears gave away
 02:29 A Slow 7 and long grass
 03:19 Tempted and the wet-track question
 04:17 Blue Door and the speed in the race
 05:45 Recovery and Friday’s gallop
 06:32 “He doesn’t bring his best game to Australia”
 07:37 The most scrutinised trial – and why the result doesn’t matter
 10:25 Chad Schofield’s dilemma on a dry track
 12:48 Wet-track tactics and track bias
 14:36 Wrap