Lachlan King has been rewarded for his success on the Grahame Begg-trained Romancer, with the apprentice retaining the ride in a stakes race at Flemington.
King, son of retired champion jockey Steven King, has ridden in stakes races before including this year's Group One Doncaster Mile but is looking for a first black-type victory on Romancer in Saturday's Listed The Sofitel (1400m).
Despite King not being allowed to use his 2kg city claim, Begg felt the 21-year-old deserved the opportunity having been aboard Romancer in three of his past five starts including his last-start victory at The Valley two weeks ago.
“He has had three rides on him for two wins and a second so we thought, let's reward him,” Begg said.
“The horse goes well for him and the kid has been very keen. He has been contacting me, he said ‘don't forget to put me on him again'. So he's keen, he rides him well and the horse goes well for him.”
Romancer finished second to Vinland over the Flemington 1400m two starts ago while during the winter King rode him to a win over the course and distance in a lead-up to the Winter Championship Series Final.
Romancer will be having the seventh start of his preparation on Saturday.
“He looks fantastic,” Begg said.
“We couldn't be any happier with the way he has progressed. He's such a great horse to train because he just helps you train him. He's just non-fussed about everything.
“He's a good trier. An honest horse.”