Australian jockey Rachel King was desperately unlucky not to win the World All-Star Jockeys series in Sapporo last weekend but Asian Racing Report Editor Michael Cox says her exceptional performance will stand her in good stead for the future. 

King was leading the series heading into the fourth and final leg, needing only to finish better than last to clinch victory, but her mount suffered an injury and was pulled-up in the straight. 

Despite the disappointing conclusion, King still finished second to young gun Mirai Iwata and ahead of legendary Japanese jockey Yutaka Take. 

King, 12th in the 2022-23 Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 31 wins, is eligible for a short-term licence in Japan and her reputation would have received a considerable boost due to her accomplished rides in the series, which included a win and a second in the first two legs. 

“She was hugely popular there, as predicted, with the fans,” Cox said on this week’s episode. “Her second in the overall standings by one point was an admirable effort and hopefully opens some doors for her in the future.”

“It was a great sign that she would be well supported there. It isn’t always the case: there can be a big difference there between being popular with fans and getting support from owners and trainers, as Hollie Doyle found out in her last stint.” 

Watch this week’s episode of Asian Racing Review:

Also on this week’s episode:

Lim’s Kosciuszko’s second win in the Lion City Cup and ‘what could have been’ in Singapore (0:00); Macau racing rumours, has there been any developments? (4:53); World All-Star Jockeys series wrap including Rachel King’s runner-up performance and what that could mean for her future in Japan (6:52); Emerging filly Namura Clair confirms herself as a G1 Sprinters Stakes contender with a convincing win in the G3 Keeneland Cup (10:28); Asian Racing Report podcast is back with a three-part Hong Kong racing preview (11:45); Golden Sixty first-up into Hong Kong Mile? (12:20); Star sprinters return this weekend in Australia including I Wish I Win, Nature Strip, In Secret and Eduardo (13:16). 

Rachel King’s dream took her the long road less travelled