RACHEL King rode a modest 27 winners over the flat and jumps as an amateur in Britain before she travelled to Australia for a working holiday. Landing at Gai Waterhouse’s Tulloch Lodge, she progressed through to race-riding, winning last season’s champion apprentice title.

On Saturday, she elevated herself to a Group 1-winning jockey, guiding Maid Of Heaven to victory in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick for young trainer Mark Newham, himself a former jockey.

“It’s amazing. A better feeling than I could ever have dreamed, and I’ve dreamed about this day a lot,” said King.“Mark was at Gai’s when I first started there and he gave me a push to start riding over here and have a go, so to give him his first Group 1 winner is very satisfying.”

Winning her maiden on her second start in August, Maid Of Heaven, by the Fastnet Rock Group 2 winner Smart Missile won by a head from the Poet’s Voice colt Aramayo. She will be rested until the autumn campaign.