Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Rachel King has a real soft spot for Arapaho and it’s easy to see why.

Rachel King (Pic: Bradley Photos)

She’s partnered Arapaho 16 times in his 42 starts including his past five wins and, as they chase a second Group 1 $1.5m KIA Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Tuesday, she’s confident the eight-year-old is not done yet.

On the back of a successful two month stint in Japan, where she came away with a Group 1, King has her sights on improving on her six career Group 1 wins.

“It was great to get one overseas but it’d be better to come back and get another one, and he’s a horse that’s special to a lot of people,’’ she said.

“He ran nearly last one day in a Tamworth Cup, he’s taken me around in a Melbourne Cup, he’s won a weight-for-age Group 1. He owes us nothing but he’s ready to regain his crown.

“He was one of the main ones I was excited to get back on and I’m grateful to Bjorn (Baker) and the owners because I missed his first two runs.

“I knew that was going to be the case and you always hope you get back on but he ran really well in those first two races while I was away.”

Arapaho, $6 with TAB on Wednesday, showed King he is on target for a second Tancred when they reunited for his narrow defeat at the hands of Vauban in the Sky High Stakes Stakes (2000m) two weeks ago.

Behind him was Lindermann who backed up to run second behind Via Sistina in the Ranvet Stakes last week.

The gelding won fourth-up in the spring, on a heavy track, in the Sandown Classic over 2400m and his Tancred win two years ago came at his fourth run in as well.

“We’ve had a fair bit of success in the past so it was really good to get back on him,’’ King said.

“I thought he ran super, he was unlucky not to get the bob in but I think he’s right on track to be in for a very good preparation again.

“I think he’s going definitely as good if not better than he was two years ago. He’s a real confidence horse and his confidence definitely couldn’t be any higher at the moment.

“He’s won on everything from a good 3 to a heavy 10, he seems to go on anything. He has put in some really good performances on wet tracks, a few of them in lesser grade, but he’s pretty straightforward to be honest.”

It’s been 25 years since there’s been a dual Tancred Stakes winner, when Tie The Knot went back-to-back in 1999 and 2000m.

New Endeavour is still searching for his first Australian win and King was impressed with his return in the Ajax Stakes two weeks ago when an eye-catching sixth behind Iowna Merc.

The gelding returns to the same course for the Group 3 $250,000 Racing And Sports Doncaster Prelude (1500m) and she’s hopeful New Endeavour can improve on it.

“He’s an import that probably is just settling in properly which might sound funny but they do sometimes take a few preparations,’’ she said.

“We got back a little bit further than we wanted to, we were aiming for midfield and got shuffled back a little bit.

“It was nice to see him show a turn of foot which we were looking for, and he rattled off some good sectionals late.”

Meanwhile, King will return to Japan again in 2025 though she’s yet to lock in the dates.

The highlight of her two months earlier this year was claiming the Group 1 February Stakes on Costa Nova and she’s allowed another month at some point this year.

Arapaho runs second in the Sky High Stakes

“You get three months in a calendar year, I’m focused on Sydney and the carnival for now and then work it out,’’ she said.

“We all know their quality of horse over there so getting to ride some of those nice horses they breed over there is a privilege.

“I was a bit more at home there this time, settled in a bit more, it’s been incredible.”

All the fields, form and replays for Stakes day at Rosehill