Rachel King turns focus to the Sydney autumn carnival after successful Japanese riding stint

The Sydney-based rider returned to Australian this week and is keen to hit the ground running as the autumn carnival heats up.

Rachel King is back in Australia following a successful stint in Hong Kong. Picture: Reg Ryan-Racing Photos via Getty Images

Group 1 jockey Rachel King is hungry for her history-making Japanese riding stint to be the first of many as she looks to carry momentum into Sydney’s blockbuster autumn carnival this week.

King arrived back in Australia on Monday night and was back riding at Kembla Grange on Tuesday following a memorable two-month riding contract in the Asian racing jurisdiction.

The English-born hoop broke new ground in a remarkable period in the saddle, chalking up 16 winners including seven stakes victories.

It included a history making success aboard Chuck Nate in the Group 2 The American Jockey Club Cup (2200m) at Nakayama, which saw King become the first female jockey ever to win a JRA Group race.

Well done Rachel King! 💪

From nowhere, @RachelK11 becomes the first female jockey ever to win a JRA Group race, taking the G2 American Jockey Club Cup on CHUCK NATE! 🇯🇵#チャックネイト | #レイチェル・キング | #アメリカジョッキークラブカップ | #競馬pic.twitter.com/GHAwRl5tTs

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) January 21, 2024

“It was an incredible experience and success always helps,” King said.

“The main goal was to go over there and learn a bit and make connections.

“Everyone knows how successful the racing industry is in Japan. When they travel horses anywhere in the world they are always very competitive so I was just trying to make those future connections as well.

“And to try something new, when those types of opportunities come up, you would be silly to stay no.”

King is the most recent Australian-based jockey to spend time in Japan with Victorian rider Damian Lane a notable success story in the racing mad nation in the past few years.

READ | Cox Plate dream for superstar filly Orchestral

A return to Japan is high on the agenda for King in the near future.

“I would definitely go back if the opportunity is there,” King said.

“I took a lot out of it and it has happened before with previous jockeys that have gone over, no matter of how well it is, you can learn off that experience.

“People know you. It took a few weeks for people to realise I was there but towards the end I was very busy on both days of racing (Saturday and Sunday).”

Ozzmosis put Rachel King’s name up in lights last spring. Picture: George Sal-Racing Photos via Getty Images.

King was back riding trackwork on Tuesday morning in Sydney and has an additional four rides at Warwick Farm on Wednesday before turning her focus to Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Randwick Guineas meeting at Royal Randwick.

She’s keen to keep the balling rolling as Sydney’s carnival heats up in the coming months.

“When there are 12 races on the card (in Japan) and there is only half an hour between races so it’s pretty fast and furious and I am certainly coming back ready to go,” she said.

“I am fit and hopefully ready to have a big carnival.”

King is most excited to reconnect with brilliant Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis, who she will pilot in a 1050m open trial on Thursday morning at Royal Randwick.

“He is obviously my main horse for the carnival and he looks to have come back in super order,” King said.

“I watched his trial the other day and Dyl (Gibbons) was kind enough to look after him for me.

“It will be good to get back on him on Thursday and see where he is at.”

Originally published as Rachel King turns focus to the Sydney autumn carnival after successful Japanese riding stint