He has won Victoria’s big three – the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and WS Cox Plate and ridden more than 50 group 1 winners all up in a career which has taken him to Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and the United Kingdom.

He has also won the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership, but is probably best known for his association with champion mare Let’s Elope.

And he has won two Ballarat Cups – Unsolved 1994 and McGuane in 1996.

For all he has done, King will achieve a first at Ballarat gallops on Tuesday.

King will have his first ride for veteran Ballarat trainer Barry James by taking the mount on Sylvan Arc in the City of Ballarat Benchmark64 Handicap, 1600m.

James said he had used many leading jockeys over the years and on reflection it was probably strange that he had never had King aboard one of his charges.

James, who trains in partnership with his son Glen, said he had chosen to engage King on the six-year-old after approaches from the champion hoop’s manager.

He said he believed Sylvan Arc would be suited by King, needing to be ridden quietly to bring the best out of him.

Sylvan Arc is his only ride at Sportsbet-Ballarat so he will be eager to make the most of it.

King does not get the number of rides he once did, but what he is doing is making the most of his opportunities. He has ridden four winners in past 13 rides.

SHAY Keating tasted success with the lightly raced Duke of Devon ($21) in a maiden, 1200m, at Kyneton on Saturday.

A three-year-old by Reset, Duke Devon was having only his second race start after being unplaced on debut at the same track in early December. Kyneton is proving to be a great destination for the Ballarat-based Keating.

She has had three wins over the past year and each has been at that track.

KYLIE Vella kept her excellent run going with Sail Rocket ($4) getting the money in a maiden, 1130m, at Geelong on Sunday. This gives the Mannibadar-based Vella three wins in her latest seven starters. Sail Rocket had raced just the once previously.

VON Classic Hero ($4) scored at his first outing for Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander in a benchmark64, 1430m, at Geelong on Sunday. The four-year-old was previously prepared Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra at Flemington. Von Classic Hero has won two of 13 starts.