No one knows more about what it takes to beat Ka Ying Rising than jockey James McDonald, and the Kiwi gun looms as the rider most likely to topple the Hong Kong superstar in Saturday’s Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick in Sydney.

The only jockey to finish ahead of Ka Ying Rising, doing so twice aboard Wunderbar at Class Three level in January last year, McDonald has also placed behind the world’s best sprinter at the top level with Howdeepisyourlove.

He partners second favourite Joliestar for Chris Waller in this weekend’s A$20 million (HK$101 million) feature and is looking forward to taking on $1.7 favourite Ka Ying Rising away from Hong Kong.

“He’s a superstar, he’s an absolute superstar. If he brings his Sha Tin form he’s almost sometimes impossible to beat the way his figures read,” said the Kiwi jockey after galloping Joliestar at Rosehill on Thursday morning.

“I’ve ridden some good horses against him and he’s made them look pretty second-rate, to be fair.

“But this is a different kettle of fish. This is probably the toughest test to date for him and he’s going to know he’s in a horse race, especially with the likes of Jimmysstar, Briasa, Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah coming at him. He’s going to have to be at the top of his game.”

Joliestar is one of three The Everest runners for Waller, who also saddles up Lady Shenandoah and Angel Capital, and the Hall of Fame trainer is loving the added hype Ka Ying Rising is bringing to a race he has won twice already.

“The best thing about Ka Ying Rising being in the race is that it brings an international flavour to this year’s event and that’s what we want to see here in Australia – we’ve got the best sprinters in the world and we take them overseas and normally get it right,” he said.

“So, to see the horse coming here with the world’s highest rating, Australia has got something to prove.

“There’s so much international flavour but having that gives more credit to the race. It’s taking the world by imagination and everybody will be watching The Everest on Saturday afternoon and let’s hope that Australia – our horses – can beat Ka Ying Rising because he’s a superstar.”

Joliestar was enormous when winning the Group Two The Shorts (1,100m) from back and wide last start but Waller believes all three of his runners can trouble the Hong Kong champ.

“How do we beat him? Just treat our horses as their own, respect our horses for who they are,” he said.

“All three of ours are, in my eyes, good enough to win the race and every horse will have to be at their best to win the race.

“It’s just a great contest. It’s not that different to an Olympic sprint final – everyone has to be on their game, get a good clean start and have everything go their way and you need to be strong over the last metres of the race.

“There’s only going to be two or three metres from first to sixth placing. It’s the best of the best coming together on Saturday at Randwick.”

Waller also attacks Saturday’s other big Australian Group One in numbers, saddling up the Boniface Ho Ka-kui-owned Land Legend, River Of Stars, Birdman and Valiant King in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m).

Sardinian jockey Andrea Atzeni will jet in from Hong Kong to partner single-figure chance Meydaan for Simon and Ed Crisford in the race.