Rachel King has already etched her name in history this year, and she’s hoping to add another chapter to her stellar season on the final day of Sydney’s autumn carnival.
In February, King made headlines by becoming the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 race on the JRA circuit in Japan. Back home last weekend, she secured a memorable stakes double at Randwick, steering Arapaho to victory in the Sydney Cup (3200m) and piloting 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.”
She will once again team up with Spicy Lu this Saturday in the Champagne Stakes (1600m), looking to extend the filly’s unbeaten streak to four wins.
Having already tasted victory over the same distance and track, King believes Spicy Lu holds an advantage over her rivals.
“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.”
In addition to Spicy Lu, King will partner Belclare in the All Aged Stakes (1400m), hopeful the mare can return to her Group 2-winning form from 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.”
On Thursday, Belclare was listed at $21, while Spicy Lu was at $18 in Champagne Stakes markets.
