Rachel King is riding the momentum of a landmark year and is aiming to cap it off with further Group 1 success as the Sydney autumn carnival draws to a close.
Earlier this year, King made history as the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 event on the JRA circuit during her time in Japan. Last weekend, she returned to Randwick in style with a stakes double, guiding Arapaho to victory in the Sydney Cup (3200m) and steering Spicy Lu to win 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 be reunited with Spicy Lu this Saturday at Randwick in the Champagne Stakes (1600m), where the promising filly will attempt to keep her unbeaten record intact.
After two impressive wins in country company, Spicy Lu dominated from the front to claim the Listed Fernhill Mile and now faces a tougher field in Group 1 company. Still, King is confident the filly is progressing in the right direction.
“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 also links up with Belclare in the All Aged Stakes (1400m), hoping the mare can rediscover the form that delivered two Group 2 victories 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.”
As of Thursday, Belclare was a $21 chance in the market, with Spicy Lu rated at $18 for the Champagne Stakes.
