The Everest 2026 Prediction and Odds

The 2026 edition of The Everest is scheduled for this weekend, with the horses going to post at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday, October 17. The race is expected to take place at 16:15 AEST.

Quick Picks

Our pick: Ka Ying Rising to win

Value bet: Tempted to win

Long shot: Ninja each-way

Betting Preview

The Everest is a Group 1 race that is contested over 1,200 metres, and is run under weight-for-age conditions. It is open to horses aged three and older, and offers a total prize purse of $20 million. The winner will receive $7 million.

Unlike a conventional race, entry depends on securing one of 12 slots rather than qualifying through a ballot. Slot holders select a horse and negotiate an arrangement with its connections.

The barriers are yet to be drawn, with it expected to take place on Friday. However, we already know the 12 horses entered in the race. These include the defending Ka Ying Rising, who is the world’s highest-rated horse and continues to dominate.

Ka Ying Rising cruised over 1000m at Canterbury Racecourse on Monday, winning his 21st consecutive race, and is now seeking his 10th Group 1 victory. Nine-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Zac Purton will ride him once again – and looks the one to beat.

But 11 other rivals are looking for glory in the world's richest turf race, including 2025 runner-up Tempted, Joliestar, Jimmysstar and 2022 The Everest victor Giga Kick.

Betting Markets to Watch

Unsurprisingly, Ka Ying Rising leads the betting odds for this race. The horse, labelled by trainer David Hayes as a “freak of nature” dominated this race last year and offers very little value because of the confidence in him.

However, the rain-affected ground presents a less familiar test for the horse, a concern Purton has raised but Hayes doesn’t share. Still, this could present value in other options for bettors…

The 2025 runner-up Tempted , owned by Godolphin, is considered the next best in this race. She will arrive after a three-length victory in the Premiere Stakes and is unbeaten in four wet-track starts. She will have the pedigree and ability to challenge, especially if the going is soft or heavy (depending on the amount of forecasted rainfall).

Jimmysstar is another contender. He finished third in the 2025 Everest and winner of this year’s Manikato Stakes. This horse is a credible contender for the places, with rain potentially helpful.

Our Prediction

Check the latest horse racing betting odds at Sportsbet.

The likeliest outcome of the 2026 Everest race is a win for Ka Ying Rising , with Tempted having the value based on her ability to handle the wet that has been forecasted. Hayes doesn’t seem fazed by it, claiming Ka Ying Rising will run well even on heavy ground.

As a long shot, Ninja is worth taking a look at in the each-way market. He beat Ya Ying Rising narrowly in a recent Randwick trial, with Tommy Berry on board.

He won that race by 0.18 lengths, and perhaps crucially, on soft ground on October 6. If you are new to the each-way market, our guide to how horse betting works explains how these bets are placed and paid out.