By Ray Hickson
Rachel King has a real weakness for Arapaho and it is straightforward to understand why.
Rachel King (Image: Bradley Photos)
She has summarized in Arapaho in his 42 starts, including his last five wins and when she followed a second $ 1.5 million US dollar Kia-Kia Tancred Stakes (2400 m) on Saturday in Rosehill, she is confident that the eight-year-old is not yet finished.
On the back of a successful two months in Japan, where she got away with a group 1, King has its sights on her six victories in Group 1.
“It was great to get one after overseas, but it would be better to come back and get another one, and he is a horse that is something special for many people,” she said.
“He ran almost the last day in a Tamworth Cup, he led me around in a Melbourne Cup, he won a group for the weight for age groups. He owes us nothing when he is ready to regain his crown.
“He was one of the most vital things I excited about, and I am Bjorn (Baker) and the owners grateful because I missed his first two runs.
“I knew that this would be the case and they always hope that they will appear again, but he ran very well in these first two races while I was gone.”
Arapaho, $ 6 with Tab on Wednesday, King showed that he was at the destination for a second Tancred when she was reunited two weeks ago because of his close defeat by Vauban in the Sky High Stakes Stakes (2000 m).
Behind him was Lindermann, who was in second place in the Ranvet Stakes last week.
The gelding won fourth over 2400 m in the Sandown Classic in spring.
“We had a lot of success in the past, so it was really good to come back to him,” said King.
“I thought he went great, he had the bad luck not to get the bob in, but I think he's right on the right track to have a very good preparation again.
“I think he definitely runs so well if not better than two years ago. He is a real horse horse and his self -confidence could definitely not be higher at the moment.
“He won everything from a good 3 to arduous 10, he seems to do everything. He has brought some really good performances in damp traces, some of them in a smaller class, but it is pretty straightforward to be sincere.”
It was 25 years ago since a two -color winner was when Tie The Knot went in a row in 1999 and 2000 m.
Up-to-date endavour is still looking for his first Australian victory and King was impressed by his return to the Ajax Stakes two weeks ago when a striking sixth behind Iowna Merc.
The gelding returns to the same course for group 3 $ 250,000 racing and sports delude (1500 m) and she is hopeful that a modern endeavor can improve.
“He is an import that is probably just setting up, which sounds comical, but sometimes they accept a few preparations,” she said.
“We came back a little further when we wanted, we wanted to go to the midfield and were struck back a bit.
“It was nice to see how he showed a turn of the foot that we were looking for and he rattled some good sections slow.”
In the meantime, King will return to Japan in 2025, although she does not have to restrict the data yet.
The highlight of her two months at the beginning of this year was the claim of group 1 to Costa Nova in February and she approved another month this year.
Arapaho runs second in Sky High Stakes
“You get three months in a calendar year, I concentrate on Sydney and the carnival for the time being and then work out,” she said.
“We all know their quality of the horse over there, so it is a privilege to ride some of these nice horses that breed there.
“This time I was a little more at home and settled a little more, it was incredible.”
All fields, shape and repetitions for the day of operation in Rosehill
