Bjorn Baker and Rachel King have combined with seasoned stayer Arapaho to take out the feature Group 2 Zipping Classic at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.
Following his strong fifth-place finish behind Via Sistina in the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes, horse racing bookmakers opened the son of Lope De Vega as the favourite for the race, a mark that he held throughout betting before jumping as the $4.40 market elect.
As expected, Smokin’ Romans ($13) and Serpentine ($21) took up the lead, turning out of the straight for the first time, with roughie Star Of India ($101) settling behind the leading duo.
The three market fancies, Kingswood ($5.50), Arapaho and Naval College ($6), found perfect positions midfield and enjoyed a solid tempo throughout the 2400m journey.
Very little changed down the back straight and down the side before Smokin’ Romans lifted the speed, which left his leading partner flatfooted and a few others came off the bit back in the field.
However, King was sitting quietly on the eventual winner as she worked off the fence and tracked up nicely to challenge the leader at the 300m mark.
With nothing else running on from the back of the field, Arapaho and Smokin’ Romans settled down to battle it out in the final 150m, with the former getting the better of the game leader, pulling clear late to claim victory by just under a length.
2024 Zipping Classic replay – Arapaho
With Bjorn Baker over in Western Australia to watch Overpass later in the day, Luke Hilton represented the stable in the post-race interview.
“He’s a special horse for the team; it’s taken a long time to get him back,” Hilton said.
“He put the writing on the wall a couple of starts ago, and he backed it up again in the Champions Stakes and then he’s just franked it today. He’s a Group 1 horse, and he’s back.
“His work on Tuesday, Bjorn said to me; he said, ‘I’ve never ever had a stayer, or him, work like he did on Tuesday’.
“So we came full of confidence; the track was obviously a little bit of a question mark – he has won on heavy before – but it was a really good result, and he’s back.
“It was a fantastic ride.
“She loves this horse; she knows him so well; she knows him inside out, and that was just an outstanding win.
“It was a very special win as well because we actually lost one of his owners (Paul Griffin) during the week and we had his funeral, and I know he’d be looking down on him, and he gave him a good kick home, I’m sure.”
Rachel King also spoke about the win post-race.
“Definitely not as designed, but we knew it was going to be worth it once we got here,” King replied after she arrived late in Melbourne due to flight delays.
“Slight delay in Sydney getting here, but nothing was going to stop me from coming down to ride this horse.
“I’m so sorry to connections of the first couple; I did miss those, but I managed to have at least one go around the track beforehand, and that ran well and gave me a little bit of a warm up before the 2400.
“He’s a dream; I can’t take much credit for it; he gets out there and does it.
“Good, soft, heavy; he does the same, and I was all horses tried like him – he’s just got the biggest heart.
“It was extra special today; we lost one of his owners not long ago and had his funeral this week, so I think ‘Griffo’ gave us a push over the line today.”
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