By Craig Kerry
Globe-trotting jockey Rachel King is keen to enjoy some time at home in Sydney before another overseas stint, and she’s hoping Encap and Alalcance can add to her festive season on Saturday at Randwick.
Over the past few weeks, English-born King became the first Australian-based jockey to ride at the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California, piloting Noriyuki Hori’s Satono Carnaval in the group 1 Juvenile Turf. She then competed in her second International Jockeys’ Championship in Hong Kong, finishing ninth.
Rachel King is out to bag a few winners at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: Getty
King also rode in her homeland at Royal Ascot mid-year, and in Japan to start 2024 – and she is ready for more.
“I’ll have a little bit of time at home for Christmas and New Year, then the beginning of January I go to Japan,” King said. “I went there at the beginning of this year for two months and had a really good stint over there on a short-term licence and had a lot of luck, so hopefully I can build on that.
“Riding in different parts of the world, it can only help your riding and career. Every time I go on one of these trips, it’s good to meet new owners and trainers and build those connections.
“Trainers and owners are travelling horses more and more now all over the world, and going to big carnivals. The prizemoney everywhere is very attractive for them to travel, so I think it’s important to build those connections and hopefully stick with some of these nice horses when they do.”
King will take the ride on Gary Portelli-trained Encap in The Ingham.Credit: Wolter Peeters
King rides Gary Portelli-trained Encap ($20 Sportsbet) in the $2 million The Ingham (1600m) on Saturday. She was aboard Encap last start when he made good ground from well back to finish fifth in The Gong at Kembla Grange.
“He ran a super race,” King said. “He drew tricky and he had to get a long way back, and I don’t think that was really the pattern of the day. He’s down a little bit in weight, and the better barrier is going to be huge for him tomorrow.
“I think the horse is going super, he just hasn’t had the best of luck in a few runs this preparation. But he’s certainly got the ability to be in these types of races. He doesn’t know how to run a bad race.”
King’s best chance on the day looks to be Alalcance ($3.60) in the listed Christmas Cup (2400m) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
“It’s my first time raceday on her, but I have sat on her a few times at trackwork, and she’s a lovely mare,” she said. “She obviously came over from overseas, and she hasn’t put a foot wrong really so far, having two starts here for a first and a second, so she seems to have adapted well. I’m always confident riding for Gai and Adrian’s team anyway.”
In the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m), King rides Portelli’s Sunrise Ridge ($81), which was fifth at Newcastle on debut.
“I haven’t ridden her, but I saw her run at Newcastle,” King said. “The 900m is always a very tricky distance and I think she’ll appreciate stepping out a little bit.
“It’s always an open race every year with a lot of first-starters, but Gary is very shrewd with his two-year-olds. He wouldn’t be putting her in there if he didn’t think she could do something.”
In the other features at Randwick, King will partner Ballroom Bella ($21) for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou in Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m).
“She’s run second in a group 2, so if she could bounce back to that kind of form, she should be right in a race like that,” she said.
Of her other rides, King said Bjorn Baker-trained Baby Rider in the sixth should improve third up.
“I think Baby Rider will run a lot better,” she said. “He hits his form when he gets up in distance. Maybe 1800 is still a little too short for him, but his work was super on Tuesday and I think he’s just starting to get there now. He might still be a run away, but I think we will see an improved performance.”
