It has already been a momentous year for Rachel King and she is hoping to parlay that into more top level success on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival.
In February, King became the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 race on the JRA circuit during a riding stint in Japan and just last weekend landed a stakes double at Randwick courtesy of the Bjorn Baker-trained Arapaho in the Sydney Cup (3200m) and Nick Olive’s Spicy Lu in the Fernhill Mile (1600m).
“It was amazing to be over there (in Japan) and get those opportunities, then it’s also always nice to get back home and back into it,” King said.
“Bjorn is one of my main supporters and my first winner I had back was a Group winner for him (Little Baia in the Aspiration Quality). It helps having those people behind you, definitely.
“But it is tough. Other people have been riding these horses while I was away and they’ve got to show loyalty both ways and it can be tough to get back on. Getting on Arapaho and Spicy Lu, a nice filly coming through the grades, was great.”
King will again team with Spicy Lu at Randwick on Saturday, this time chasing a win in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
The filly will also be seeking to maintain her unbeaten record having strung together consecutive country victories against older horses before leading throughout in the Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m).
While the Champagne is another level again, King says Spicy Lu is an improving filly and expects her experience over the course and distance to be advantageous.
“It’s an open race. A lot of them are trying the mile for the first time. She has at least had a crack over the track and trip so that is going to help her,” King said.
“Sitting on her around the yard last week, she felt a little bit narrow, like she wasn’t quite there yet. Like she was going to be a 2000-metre, three-year-old type.
“But when I cantered off on her she picked herself up and had a massive stride and that’s how she felt in the run. She didn’t really get much quicker, she just really lengthened which is a good attribute to have.
“She is still learning how to use it but she’s got a great attitude and that will help.”
King will partner Belclare for Baker in the day’s other Group 1, the All Aged Stakes (1400m), hoping the mare can rediscover the form that resulted in a brace of Group 2 wins last spring.
“I galloped her on Tuesday. That was the first time I had sat on her since I’ve been back and she felt really good,” King said.
“She probably has to bounce back a bit from what her form was when she went back to New Zealand. This will be a gauge on where she’s at.”
Belclare was a $21 chance on Thursday, while Spicy Lu was at $18 for the Champagne Stakes.
