By Craig Kerry
It was a stark contrast for Rachel King when she returned to Sydney on Wednesday for one long-shot ride in front of a handful of punters at Rosehill.
King has become accustomed to the spotlight in racing-mad Japan, where she regularly signs autographs and competes in front of packed crowds.
Rachel King wins on Warwoven at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
She hopes Bjorn Baker-trained Golden Slipper favourite Warwoven can give her a taste of it again on Saturday when he makes his much-anticipated return in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick.
King returned on Monday from another successful stint in Japan, where she rode 16 winners in a month at a strike rate of 21.1 per cent. It took her tally there to 61 wins across several short stays over the past three years.
“Yeah, you never see a racecourse this empty [in Japan],” King said as she left Rosehill.
“And I go in the middle of winter, and it’s packed. It’s huge, and the fans are amazing. It’s a real love for the sport.
“I think it’s growing all the time here as well, but it is nice to see all those people there, and just how much they love the industry.
“It’s a bit weird because jockeys over there … a bit more like celebrities than here, but it’s good. It’s a nice feeling. I had to learn to do autographs when I started going to Japan. I’d never had to do anything like that before, which is a nice problem to have.”
King believed the stints have made her a better rider. The only downside is her supporters, like husband and Baker assistant trainer Luke Hilton, can’t get decent odds when backing her rides.
“Luke always complains because the prices of my horses over there are like J-Mac’s [James McDonald] here,” she said.
“With each time I’ve gone back, I’ve probably ridden more and more higher-quality horses. I got to ride Forever Young’s little sister and win on her. He won that night, and she won during the day, and she won by a gap at Tokyo, so I got to ride some really beautiful horses.
“The owners and trainers are very, very supportive. They plan for when I’m coming and run horses around that.”
She can spend one more month in Japan and hopes to do that this year, but for now, the focus is on Warwoven, which has not raced or trialled since he was controversially scratched from the Magic Millions Classic on January 17 when deemed lame by Racing Queensland vets.
Despite the setback, the Sword Of State colt, unbeaten in two starts, remains top of Golden Slipper markets ($6 TAB). King was back aboard Warwoven on Tuesday in a track gallop and she was confident he was going better than ever.
Rachel King winning on Warwoven at Randwick on December 20.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s definitely a nice one to come back for. We’re excited about it,” said King, who has ridden Warwoven in both wins.
“It was his final bit of work, and he was very good, very pleased with him. The reports have been very good, that he’s been in super order back again this prep.
“I think he’s getting better all the time, he’s stronger again and that little bit more mature. I know it didn’t go to plan at Magic Millions, but he had a good trip up there to help him mature.”
Warwoven was a $2.15 favourite from gate one for the Skyline, which could be held on a testing surface if predicted rain hits.
“He has won on a [soft 5] track, but obviously it’s probably still a bit unknown, with race day pressure on a wet track,” King said.
“He’s a good-moving horse, and he’s very straightforward, but until we get on it, we’re not going to know, but I think most horses in the race will be in the same boat.”
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