There have been plenty quick to knock Ka Ying Rising since his third in a Randwick trial on Tuesday morning, but trainer David Hayes is confident The Everest (1,200m) favourite is “right on song” a week out from the race.

After working up a sweat pre-race, Ka Ying Rising wasn’t at his brilliant best in his first trial since travelling to Sydney last month.

“I don’t have any concerns because I know his nature and I knew he’d be a bit upset getting to a new place for the first time,” said Hayes.

“He’s never seen Randwick so the idea of trialling was to get him to have a good look at Randwick and he stargazed a little bit out from the rail.

“He sat six wide outside of everyone because Zac [Purton] wanted him to relax and he just got a bit lost in the straight.

“He was probably 10lb heavier than when he won [at Sha Tin on September 7] and probably by the time of the race he’ll be just below his winning weight, which is what I wanted because he was racing a bit heavier than last year anyway.

“So his weight is already back in check, as I predicted, and it will be just a matter of marking time and a little sharp gallop on Monday and he’ll be spot on. No excuses.”

While Tuesday’s track conditions were softer than optimal for Ka Ying Rising, Hayes confirmed he is “not worried about the surface at all”.

“They always keep the water up to it but the other morning it had been raining and it was a damp morning. It won’t be that soft on race day unless it rains,” said Hayes.

All eyes will now be on Ka Ying Rising’s Monday gallop.

“It’ll be his typical final gallop – I’m trying to copy and paste what I do in Hong Kong. He’ll run home in about 23 [seconds] and that’ll be just good,” said Hayes.

“I’m really happy with where he is fitness-wise and that was the reason for the trial – to bring him on. I didn’t care if he won or lost, he just needed a good outing. We’re right on song.”

While Hayes will remain in Australia until next weekend’s The Everest, the show will go on in Hong Kong and he has nine runners at Sha Tin on Sunday headlined by Tomodachi Kokoroe in the Class Two Shing Mun Handicap (1,200m).

Hayes was wowed by Tomodachi Kokoroe’s lightning-quick last-start success in a “Ka Ying Rising time” of 1:07.76 and he hopes his seven-year-old can perform again despite a 10-point ratings increase and gate 11.

“He might have to be Ka Ying Rising from the gate. If he rinses and repeats, he’s got a spot in the good sprint races,” said Hayes, referring to October 26’s Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) and beyond.

“It’s a good test for him and he hasn’t gone backwards. It’s just the 10lb and a bad gate. He had a beautiful run the other day – will he get that run again? Regardless, he’s in good form.”