6 days ago
2025 Winx Stakes: Jockey Rachel King to ride Arapaho
Star Sydney jockey Rachel King will return from her latest successful Japanese stint in time to ride Arapaho in the first Group 1 of the new season, the $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick next week.
King rides at the Sapporo double-header this weekend before leaving Japan on Monday night.
She's hoping to ride at Warwick Farm's Wednesday meeting ahead of Sydney Cup winner Arapaho's comeback in the Winx Stakes on August 23.
'I'll definitely be back for Arapaho, I won't be missing him,'' King told Racing Confidential.
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King has been in outstanding form over the last month in Japan including her four winners at Sapporo last Saturday before following up with a double on Sunday.
She made history earlier this year by becoming the first female jockey to win a Group 1 race in Japan.
King plans to concentrate on the Sydney and Melbourne spring carnivals in coming months but is in such demand in Japan there is every chance she will be invited back next year.
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Sydney Cup winner in star-studded trial on Friday
Arapaho, who is being set for the Melbourne Cup, tunes up for his Winx Stakes comeback with a 1000m barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens on Friday.
The Bjorn Baker-trained stayer is in the opening heat against the likes of stablemate Within The Law, Lindermann, Memo and North England.
The Rosehill trials session also features The Everest runners Private Harry and Briasa who clash in the third heat over 900m against talented three-year-olds Nepotism and Hidden Achievement.
Team Hawkes, which trains Group 1 winners Briasa (TJ Smith Stakes) and Nepotism (Champagne Stakes), also has Blue Diamond winner Devil Night and classy four-year-old Swiftfalcon due to trial on Friday.
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Waller guns lined up for exhibition gallops
Champion trainer Chris Waller. Picture: Richard Dobson
Trainer Chris Waller is adopting his usual practice of giving his elite carnival hopefuls exhibition gallops at Rosehill on Saturday a week out from their scheduled comeback races.
Horse of the Year-elect Via Sistina, Fangirl and Aeliana are all due to gallop over 1000m after the opening race on Saturday's program.
Then after the second race, Lady Shenandoah and Autumn Glow will also work over 1000m.
Via Sistina, Fangirl, Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah are all likely to resume in the Winx Stakes while Autumn Glow is expected to contest the Group 3 $250,000 Show County Quality (1200m) on the same day.
Meanwhile, Waller is trying to win his first Group 2 $300,000 PB Lawrence (formerly JJ Liston) stakes with North American Group 1 winners Moira and Annisette at Caulfield on Saturday.
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Dua Lipa gone to the dogs? Not quite...
Dua Lipa provided some nice mood music for Darren Flindell at a Shelbourne Park greyhound meeting in Ireland recently. Picture: James D Morgan / Getty Images
Sydney's premier racecaller Darren Flindell has revealed how he got swept up in 'Dua Lipa mania' when he went to a greyhound meeting in Ireland recently.
'We went to watch the dogs at a place called Shelbourne Park,'' he said.
'When we were walking to the track, there were all these young people heading in our direction. I said 'I can't believe they are all going to the dogs tonight'.
'But as it turned out, right next door to the dog track was a Dua Lipa concert so we would hear the music all night. It made for a really good atmosphere.''
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