Rachel King and Bjorn Baker have repeated the dose on Arapaho after combining in the Listed Canberra Cup, they've found success in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon.
It was a race of tactics as Knights Order took up his regular role of leading throughout the 2400m contest and never settled as the likes of Sir Lucan and eventually King Frankel gave him plenty to think about.
The mid-race move by Tyler Schiller aboard King Frankel was arguably the one that gave the eventual winner the perfect cart into the race.
He took off with 800m to go and exposed his mount on the five and six-wide line turning for home, allowing Arapaho and Rachel King to truck into the race out wider.
Montefilia was as honest as ever running into second coming from off the pace, while the same can be said for Gold Trip who got too far out of his ground and Cleveland cutting back to the inside looking cherry ripe for the Group 1 Sydney Cup in two weeks-time.
2023 Group 1 Tancred Stakes – Arapaho
Arapaho was too good on the day though and the Lope De Vega gelding doesn't look out of place moving further into the autumn.
He's come so far for trainer Bjorn Baker who alluded to just that post-race.
“Absolutely thrilled, he's been a great horse,” said Baker.
“This time last year we were hoping to win about a benchmark 70 race, so it's worked out well.
“He traveled beautifully, Rachel (King) got it right. She just puts him in the zone, she really suits with him so fantastic. Great team of owners, we're going to have some fun.”
Rachel King always had a great association with Bjorn Baker and Arapaho and was delighted to take out a Group 1 aboard this tough six-year-old.
“I just know he's got the biggest heart ever this horse, he's not the biggest in himself, said King.
“I actually said on the way here whenever Arapaho is running it's a good day because you just know he's going to try his hardest. He certainly showed them what he can do today.
“He's been a superstar to me. Thanks to the owners and Bjorn (Baker) and everyone at home has done a fantastic job.
“This horse has improved to no end this preparation. He's the prime example of he's a happy horse and he'll run his heart out every time.
“Bjorn has been fantastic, him and the connections have supported me the whole way through. I probably haven't had the best start to this carnival and I felt like I was treading water a little bit.
“To get a winner earlier and then come and win a Group 1 on him has made my carnival much better and hopefully it can keep going from here.”
If Arapaho does head to the Group 1 Sydney Cup, he's currently a $8 chance with online bookmakers.