A Melbourne Cup-winning jockey has retired from the saddle after a terrific career that yielded 54 Group I wins.
Melbourne jockey Steven King last rode in December last year but told the Herald Sun he would not return to race riding.
King, who won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 1991 aboard Let's Elope said he was working for prominent Victorian owner Lloyd Williams at his Macedon Lodge operation.
King said he was unsure whether he would move into the training ranks but added he would retire satisfied with his achievements in the saddle.
"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," King 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 it 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's son Lachlan is a promising apprentice in Victoria and the 47-year-old said he was enjoying watching his son develop under the guidance of trainer Gerald Egan.
"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," he said.
King took out the Melbourne jockeys' premiership in the 1996/97 season while his list of Group I wins includes the 2003 Cox Plate on Fields Of Omagh, the 1991 Victoria Derby on Star Of The Realm and completing the 2002 Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby on Helenus.
King's last win was aboard the Anthony Cosgriff-trained Arachne on November 25 last year.
