The trainer of Ka Ying Rising has labelled speculation about the Everest favourite "bulls***t" amid rumours all wasn't well with the star sprinter ahead of this Saturday's race.
Social media and betting markets lit up over the weekend, with word spreading fast that the shortest favourite in Everest history might not be fully fit.
Several bookmakers even temporarily suspended betting, while some punters jumped on at better than even money after the Hong Kong-based five-year-old drifted amid the scuttlebutt.
Despite the drama, Ka Ying Rising's Australian trainer David Hayes says there's absolutely nothing to worry about with his superstar gelding.
"He worked beautifully this morning, ate all his feed, he’s hydrated and his weight is great," Hayes said on SEN.
"So bring on the weekend.
"It was a bit of a shock to the system which I thought funny at first, but then in the end I thought, 'Wow, this is out of control.'"
With the chatter now quietened down, Ka Ying Rising has settled in as a $1.75 favourite for the $20 million, 1200m dash at Royal Randwick.
Hayes said false claims of him reporting on the horse's condition to its owner were circulated.
"I know it’s a Trump-ism but it was truly fake news," he added.
"I was just 100 per cent wrong. All the horses for The Everest have to get vetted this morning and he got through with flying colours.
"It’s not just him getting vetted, everyone is getting vetted for the race. He passed.
"He’ll get vetted again on Friday, as every other horse will, and there’s just nothing to worry about. He’s fine.
"He’s been vetted. It’s just all bulls--t.
"They say there’s a fake one of me ringing the owner on WhatsApp. I don’t know how you impersonate my accent.
"I don’t speak to the owner because he doesn’t speak English."