There has been a noticeable recent shift in the manner rival camps are contemplating Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising ahead of Saturday’s $20 million The Everest, with champion trainer Chris Waller on Saturday highlighting the difficulties of performing in a different country.

Seemingly, The Everest has been a race for second place for many months following the confirmation of Ka Ying Rising’s likely presence, but since the world’s premier sprinter’s somewhat unflattering trial at Randwick last week, his opposition sense a potential weakness.

Waller takes three horses into Saturday’s 1200-metre slot race, and he is no longer simply hopeful of an upset but is actively planning for one.

“He’s obviously a great horse but it’s just horses for courses,” Waller said of Ka Ying Rising at Caulfield on Saturday.

“We’ve got three (runners) on our home track in our own backyard. It’s like us going to Hong Kong – you’re on the back foot. At home, he’s an absolute superstar but he’s got different track conditions (to deal with).

“I hope he’s in the finish because it would be a great story. I want him to do well and if he wins the race, that’s great.”

Waller’s charge is probably headed by his flying mare Joliestar, but he figures he also has a likely sharp-improver in the form of Lady Shenandoah and a wild-card type in Angel Capital.

Waller said Joliestar had never raced as well as she is currently. “I think she’s a better horse than when she ran in the race last year,” he said. “She was slow away and took time to muster speed then very strong through the line, but you see her now, she’s confident to jump and be comfortable.”

Lady Shenandoah is coming off a rare defeat when she was unplaced in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley, but Waller said he expected punters to warm to her in the lead-up to the race.

“She didn’t thrive down here in her first serious trip away,” he said before warning. “I think you might be surprised as there’ll be a bit of support for her.”

Angel Capital just followed the field around in Ka Ying Rising’s trial last week, but Waller said he was pleased with his condition ahead of his biggest assignment to date.

“I didn’t want him to do much as he hasn’t raced right-handed,” he said. “I was happy.”