What an absolute star Rachel King is!
Sure, she is a seasoned, professional jockey and you simply do not get an invitation to the prestigious Longines International Jockey’s Championship (IJC) in Hong Kong without earning the right to join the line-up of twelve of the best riders from all around the world … but for King to come away with a win in her first ride at Happy Valley in such a pressure-cooker situation on Wednesday night was quite outstanding.
At a function introducing the jockeys to the media on Tuesday evening, Tom Marquand, who was the joint winner of the 2022 IJC, put the challenge facing visiting riders in perspective.
“When you come over to Hong Kong it’s people like Zac Purton’s stomping ground,” said Marquand. “The local boys technically have track advantage, so you have to do everything you can to make sure that doesn’t come into play and not miss a beat all evening, which is hard.
“Riding at Happy Valley is a pretty unique experience. Every time you come back you learn something new. It’s sharp but super fair.
“The interference rules are so strict so you have to be on it and you have some of the best jockeys in the world riding, so it’s ridiculously tight racing, but to a really high level so it makes it fun to ride. The stakes are pretty high, too.”
That was Marquand talking with riding experience at Happy Valley behind his name. Going into Wednesday night, King had no such benefit. She had to learn on the fly … and had to learn quickly … and that she did, saluting in her very first ride at the demanding circuit against the toughest of rivals in the opening leg of the four race IJC series.
From an Australian point of view, the fact that King’s winner, Oversubscribed, was saddled by Aussie ex-pat David Hall added extra lustre to the win.
In the run, King settled Oversubscribed in fourth place, tracking the speed some three lengths off the leader, before she set the eight-year-old gelding alight on straightening which saw him quickly make up ground to race right into contention.
And there would be no let-up in the momentum King had Oversubscribed had built between the 300m and 150m with Oversubscribed sustaining his run to the line, shrugging off the persistent challenge of the runner-up Harmony Fire to score by 0.75 lengths.
“I had to pinch myself halfway up the straight because I couldn’t believe the horse travelled into it so well,” said King.
“If anything, I thought I might have gone a bit too soon, but he was strong late.”
King, who would ultimately claim a highly creditable third place in the 2023 IJC, was in Hong Kong to officially represent her country.
No one can deny she made the most of the opportunity and did both herself and Australia proud.
