Star hoop to tackle Chipping Norton Stakes aboard Colette

Star hoop Rachel King continues to kick goals in the famous Godolphin royal blue and she’s determined to break new ground with a maiden Group 1 riding for the racing powerhouse at Randwick this weekend.

King, who booted home four winners including two for Godolphin last Saturday, will link up with the James Cummings-trained Colette in Saturday’s Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).

The in-form pair combined for a stunning first-up win on rain affected going when claiming honours in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick earlier this month.

What a great mare! Colette takes out the Group 2 Apollo Stakes to come back with a big bang! Gun ride from @RachelK11 for @godolphinpic.twitter.com/1c9dTm52jO

Colette is listed by TAB.com.au as a $3.50 second elect to repeat the performance in the Chipping Norton with superstar mare Verry Elleegant holding sway with the bookmaker at $2.60 before acceptances.

King is eager to get back aboard the Golden Eagle winner in Saturday’s Group 1 assignment.

“She is a little war horse,” King said.

“To come back and do what she did first-up, she has got plenty improvement in her and has proven she is very versatile.

“Hopefully it can keep raining during the week.”

Rachel King scoring on Colette at Randwick. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

King already has one Group 1 to her name aboard the Mark Newnham-trained Maid Of Heaven in the Spring Champion Stakes in 2018.

It would be fitting for her to add to that tally via a Godolphin runner given they’ve been one of her biggest supporters in recent years.

King has become one of Godolphin’s go-to riders for the big occasion and with good reason, with 20 of her 74 wins this season coming for Cummings.

“They have been supporting me for a couple of years now and James hasn’t been afraid to put me on in the bigger races,” King said.

“It helps that I can ride 52kg as well, which helps give them a few options and I know the horses well.

“I go and ride work for them when I can and James is really appreciating the work I am doing.

“They are repaying me for it.”

Rachel King returns to scale on Emanate. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

King piloted Emanate and Andermatt to wins for Godolphin last weekend.

Her stellar effort at Rosehill was the second time in the past three months she has ridden four winners at a Sydney metropolitan Saturday meeting.

But the English expat remains determined to better that winning number – particularly with in house bragging rights with fiance Blake Spriggs on the line.

“I need to get five because Blake has one over on me,” she said.

“He rode five at Rosehill as an apprentice, so I can‘t do that but Rosehill has been a lucky track for both of us.

“He still reminds me and now I have ridden four twice at the track, he is still going remind me.”

Originally published asKing chasing crowing moment in royal blue

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