Steven King has put his plans to take out a dual jockey-trainer licence on hold as he waits to ride against his son in a race.
King last year expressed interest in the new licence which will allow jockeys to also train horses in Victoria.
But the veteran jockey’s focus has now turned to riding against his son Lachlan who is a second year apprentice for Mansfield trainer Gerald Egan.
“My boy will probably be riding by the end of the year,” King said.
“I want to have a ride with him first.
“I’ll jump that hurdle once I’ve had a few rides against him.
“I haven’t decided which way I’ll head.”
King has won 53 Group Ones including the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.
Steven and Lachlan King will not be the first father-son duo to battle it out on Victorian racetracks with Dwayne and Dylan Dunn regularly competing in Melbourne racing.
Both Dunns are in contention for premierships, with Dylan leading the race for the Melbourne apprentice title by three wins and Dwayne two behind Craig Williams in the senior premiership.
One high-profile jockey who has applied for a trainer’s licence is injured Melbourne Cup-winning rider Michelle Payne.
“I’ve been filling out all the paperwork and applying for my licence this month so hopefully in August we’ll be ready to go,” she told Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock.
Payne has been setting up a training facility next door to her father Paddy’s Ballarat property.
“I think it’s the perfect set-up for training,” Payne said.
“I just think if you’ve got the right place set up and you’re passionate about it, it’s a winning recipe.”
Dual licences will be issued by Racing Victoria from August 1.
