That said, the numbers still tell a story of a young jockey learning his trade. Three winners from 43 rides this season is modest, and his most regular partnership — 17 rides alongside trainer Mark Michael McNiff — has yet to produce a single winner. That kind of barren run with a regular yard can feel brutal, but it is also a reality for developing jockeys who are still earning the trust of the sport's bigger stables.
Where King does catch the eye is at Sligo. Three winners from 15 races at that track gives him a win rate of 20% there — winning 1 in every 5 — which stands in sharp contrast to his figures elsewhere. That is not a coincidence; it suggests he knows the track well, reads it effectively, and may simply suit the style of racing that Sligo demands. For any punter or casual fan, it is the kind of specific, localised edge that is genuinely worth knowing about.
At just four years into his career, King is still very much a jockey in progress. The improvement from one season to the next is the most encouraging sign here — riders who keep finding small gains tend to be the ones who eventually break through.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sligo | 15 | 3 | 20% |
| Ballinrobe | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Galway | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Kilbeggan | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Cork | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Roscommon | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Limerick | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Thurles | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Bangor-on-Dee | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Tramore | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Down Royal | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Punchestown | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Downpatrick | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Clonmel | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Leopardstown | 1 | 0 | 0% |