It has been a momentous few weeks for Rachel King on a personal front, and the top jockey will be looking to parlay that into racetrack success with a strong book of rides at the Sunshine Coast.
King returned home to England last month to marry Luke Hilton, racing manager for trainer Bjorn Baker, and while there she fulfilled a childhood dream to ride at Royal Ascot.
After a brief honeymoon, she was back in the saddle with two mounts at Canterbury on Wednesday but will up the ante with a full book of nine rides in Queensland this weekend, including two feature race chances for the Baker stable.
One of those will be Wategos at 54.5kg in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m), and while the hoop isn’t having any post-honeymoon weight battles, Baker says the same can’t be said for her new husband.
“I think Luke put on enough weight for all of us,” Baker quipped.
Wategos has been in a purple patch of form since his arrival in Queensland, posting a Doomben win in May and following it with a brace of black-type placings.
He is proven in heavy ground and that is shaping as a crucial statistic with the Caloundra track rated in the heavy range on Wednesday and further rain forecast.
“He’s going well and he’s pretty adaptable on all track conditions,” Baker said.
“He’s drawn the middle of the pack, eight of fifteen, so he’ll be able to put himself in the first four to six and I think he’s a big chance.
“He gets down in the weights, Rachel King rides. He’s going to be very competitive.”
King will also reunite with Alegron for Baker in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).
Overseas for the horse’s last-start Brisbane Cup success, King did land a Group 3 win aboard Alegron for his former trainer James Cummings and Baker predicted another bold showing from his recent stable recruit.
“Rachel goes on him, she has ridden him earlier in his career and she knows him well,” Baker said
“He was very good in the Brisbane Cup, he’s had three weeks between runs, he’s dropping in trip and he seems to be thriving in Queensland.
“He’s got a pretty good gate so we will put him where he’s comfortable and I think he’ll really appreciate the big Sunshine Coast track.”
King’s feature race book also includes promising three-year-old Know Thyself for Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich in the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m).
