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Craig Kerry
March 19, 2026 — 5:56pm
Jockey Rachel King just wants to win big races – and they don’t come much bigger or more prestigious than the $5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill.
If she becomes the first female rider to boot home the winner of the richest race for two-year-olds when she rides Warwoven on Saturday, in the event’s 70th edition, well, that’s great, too.
The seven-time group 1 winner, though, would rather celebrate the fact she already competes in a sport where female riders match it with men every day.
“I think any big race is nice to win, but I think a lot of us girls who do ride are of the same opinion, that we’re very lucky that we compete in a sport where we are level,” said King, who became the first female jockey to win a group 1 flat race in Japan last year.
“It’s a very level playing field and I like to sort of push the fact that it is.
“And probably, yes, it’s an achievement to reach certain milestones and be the first female, but also I like the fact that it is a level playing field, so I try to stay away from the female aspect of it, I guess.
“I think racing should probably applaud themselves more for the fact that they are a sport where it’s level, whereas I don’t think there’s many sports in the world that are.”
Jamie Melham, who completed the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double on Half Yours last year, is also in Saturday’s Slipper, where she is aboard Closer To Free.
King has ridden Bjorn Baker-trained colt Warwoven in all four starts, winning three, including last week’s Pago Pago Stakes in a last-ditch effort to make the Slipper field.
Warwoven has been prominent in Slipper betting markets since his debut win, but he only came back from injury in January. As well as the disrupted preparation, he will also have to overcome a wide draw in 12 of 16 on Saturday.
King hoped for a change in luck in the race on the versatile Warwoven after finishing second on future star Anamoe in 2021 when starting from the outside gate and powering home from near last.
“I was very excited the year I got the ride on Anamoe, and then I drew 16, so it can only be a better gate than 16, so I was OK with [Warwoven’s draw],” King said.
“He’s got options and he’s pretty straightforward.
“They’re all quite even [this year]. I don’t think there’s anything that jumps off the page, so it will be interesting.
“I think he’s just had a few canters [this week]. I haven’t ridden him or anything, but by all accounts, he’s pulled up well.
“He’s a big strong colt and the gallop that he had on Saturday at the races was probably not dissimilar to one Bjorn would give him on a Tuesday anyway, so he’d be fine. He’s learnt how to cope with those.”
