King abdicates role
JACKPOT 5 Bomber Miss Handicap JOCKEY Steven decided to retire.
King burst to national prominence in the spring of 1991 with Let’s Elope, the best horse he ever rode. They combined to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
The 47-year-old also won the Victoria Derby on Star Of The Realm in the same year.
King, who hasn’t ridden since last November, has been working for Lloyd Williams at Mt Macedon and said it was a wonderful opportunity.
“I’m still working out my career path, and whether that’s as a trainer I’m not sure, but for the moment it’s great to be with Lloyd Williams as he has great horses and great staff,” he said.
“I’m happy with what I’ve achieved. I could have kept going for another three or four years but I’d really be milking it. I’ve gone down another career path which I regard as a transition phase.
“I’m happy doing what I’m doing and I just decided there was no value in going on. I’d only be devaluing my career.”
King said the rise of son Lachlan, 18, as an apprentice also influenced his decision.
“I hung around so I could have a couple of rides against him last year but then I King has thought he didn’t need the added pressure of having me hanging around.
“It’s time for me to step back and Lachlan to step up. I’m passing the baton to him.”
King said Lachlan’s career was, in effect, a continuation of his own. “I watch all of his rides and I’m like a coach behind the scenes for him. When he rides I feel as if I’m still riding.”
Steven King had stints riding in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and the UK.
He won the 1996-97 Melbourne jockeys’ premiership.
In the spring of 2002 King rode Helenus to win the Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby and the following spring won the Cox Plate on Fields Of Omagh.
His last Group 1 race was the 2016 Thousand Guineas when he finished second on I Am A Star.