Rachel King’s star continues to rise
Rachel King has continued her rise up the riding ranks with a winning double at Randwick including victory on classy performer Sound Proposition which earned her a trip to the stewards’ room but not for the usual reason.
King was called in by deputy chief steward Philip Dingwall who praised her competitive ride in Saturday’s 1800m-handicap on the topweight.
The apprentice has made inroads in Sydney racing since she had her first ride in town in November and has no regrets about being held back to country and provincial meetings until then although it means she can’t catch Andrew Adkins in the junior premiership.
Her boss Gai Waterhouse wanted King to hone her craft out of town.
“Gai knows what she is doing and I’ve been guided by her for a long time,” King said.
“It’s been proven the right thing to do.”
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is among those King travelled to ride for in her formative stages and has no hesitation putting the 26-year-old in bigger races.
With her apprentice’s claim now at 1.5kg, Sound Proposition carried 60kg.
He was backed late from $5.50 to $3.50 to wrest favouritism from Loyalty Man ($3.70) with the pair covering the final 100 metres together.
Sound Proposition prevailed by a head with early leader Jacquinot Bay ($8.50) leading the rest another 4-1/4 lengths away.
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“Rachel rode him perfectly,” Lees said.
“He didn’t have the best of starts but she got him into the one-one.
“This horse has a lot of upside.”
A Group One winner of the Easter Stakes (1600m) in New Zealand, Sound Proposition has had two starts since being transferred to Lees for two wins.
Lees is hoping he can reach Group One level in Australia this spring.
“I’ll give him a bit of a freshen-up and get him ready for the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and then the Epsom,” he said.
“I think he could be a lightweight chance in an Epsom.”
The Cameron (1500m) is on September 15 with the Epsom (1600m) 15 days later.
Earlier, King kept her association with the Jason Coyle-trained Memes on track, with her past four rides on the filly producing three wins and a close second.
Her double brought her season tally to 24 metropolitan wins and 85 overall in NSW.
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