David Hayes is confident Ka Ying Rising is a better horse for his Group One The Everest (1,200m) expedition after the world’s best sprinter breezed through a Sha Tin trial on Friday morning.

Trialling for the first time since his comprehensive success in the world’s richest turf race at Randwick in Sydney last month, Ka Ying Rising cruised home first in a star-studded dirt hit-out featuring My Wish and Helios Express.

“It was an upper-class trial with some of Hong Kong’s best horses and he did what he does. He trialled like I thought he would,” said Hayes.

“It was certainly better than the Randwick trial. [Zac Purton] still said he didn’t quite change legs but he doesn’t have to. When he needs to, he will. Under trial conditions, he was comfortable on the wrong leg.

“He’s come back from the overseas trip in terrific order and I think mentally it’s improved him a bit.

“A lot of horses – not all – but a lot who have had these international trips come back better if they’ve handled it well. I think he has and I’m actually confident that the trip has brought him on, not taken away.”

Ka Ying Rising will chase a 15th consecutive success in next weekend’s Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) before shifting his focus to landing back-to-back victories in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on December 14.

“He’s got back here [from Sydney] and his weight’s terrific. If his weight wasn’t where I wanted it he’d be keeping fresh for the big race, but he needs a race. He’s just a bit fresh,” said Hayes.

More immediately for Hayes, he saddles up two runners in Saturday’s Sha Tin feature, the Class Two Lukfook Jewellery Cup (1,200m).

Both Storm Rider and Harmony N Blessed are last-start Happy Valley winners, with the former notching his first success in Class Two after being promoted to the field following a scratching and the latter stepping up in class and distance for Saturday’s contest.

“I thought the way Storm Rider raced [when second] two starts ago had Sha Tin written all over it. He came from last at Happy Valley and one more stride he could have won,” said Hayes.

“He’s a winner at both tracks and I think he’s gone to another level this season. The second two starts back told me that and then he confirmed it when he won in the upper class.

“He’ll be ridden conservatively – there’s a bit of pace – and he’ll be charging home late.

“If you look at Harmony N Blessed’s form, when he draws in he’s always in the money. He’s got a good gate and a light weight after lumping the big weight the other day, so you never know.”

Storm Rider will jump from gate 11 under Karis Teetan, while Hollie Doyle has stall five at her disposal aboard Harmony N Blessed.

Hayes will attack the Sha Tin fixture with a dozen runners, a hand which includes a couple of other last-start winners in Fortune Boy and Night Purosangue.