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Arapaho defeats Rachel King and Bjorn Baker

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Arapaho defeats Rachel King and Bjorn Baker

Triumph in Saturday’s Zipping Classic at Caulfield a tough week has ended Arapahocommunications.

Jockey Rachel King carried Arapahoe to the finish line ahead of the game leader Smoking Romans in the last 100 meters of the $750,000 event.

King said she could have gotten some heavenly help from late Arapahoe co-owner Paul Griffin at the end of the Group 2 competition.

Sydney rugby league spokesman Griffin was killed in a senseless one-punch attack at a pub in the city’s north-west. Melbourne Cup Day.

Griffin was buried a few days before the Zipping Classic.

“Today was special because we recently lost one of his owners and had his funeral this week, so I think Griffo gave us a boost today,” King said.

One Punch Victim Paul Griffin



Due to a flight delay in Sydney, King missed her first few rides at Caulfield, but Arapahoe made up for it with a strong performance.

“We knew it would be worth it once we got here,” King said.

“There was a slight delay in Sydney getting here, but nothing stopped me from coming and riding this horse.”

Bjorn Baker-trained Arapahoe dropped out of class after Group 1 competition Champion Stakes V Flemington climbing 2400m for the first time since winning Group 1 Tancred Stakes in March last year.

A trio of Group 1 winners, Zipping Classic, took three of the first four places, with the Smokin’ Romans finishing second.

English Derby winner Serpentine was fourth after stable Berkeley Square.




King said Arapahoe did all the work in the Zipping Classic, sailing in his usual smooth manner before getting too stiff in the straight.

“He’s a dream,” King said.

“I can’t take too much credit for it, he goes out and does it.

“Good, soft or hard tracks, he does the same thing and I wish all horses would try the same thing – he just has the biggest heart.”

Baker’s Representative Luke Hiltonwho is also King’s husband, said Arapahoe’s work Tuesday morning convinced Warwick Farm Coach, he brought the eight-year-old boy back to his best form.

“About his work on Tuesday,” Bjorn told me, “he said, ‘I’ve never had a guest or work like he did on Tuesday,'” Hilton said.

“So we came in full of confidence.

“Obviously the track was a bit of a question mark – he had won at heavyweight before – but it was a really good result and he came back.”