King, with 83 winners in the past 12 months and still a claiming apprentice, is comparable with Bowman in sprints over 1000m and 1600m at headquarters in Racing And Sports jockey ratings.

For instance, in the Inspire Mile (1600m) in which Bowman (4.5) handles Medaille, King (4.3), engaged for Unequivocal, trails but is listed ahead of the sizzling Blake Shinn (3.6) in the same event.

Booked for Great Choice, King (4.3) in the Research Sprint (1000m) is even closer to the bagpipe-playing bushie from Dunedoo (4.4) on Guard Of Honour.

Perhaps in other races she doesn't have the same high figures but King is the latest female to show the so-called weaker sex is a match for machos in the saddle.

Certainly they get more opportunities here than counterparts in Europe, emphasised by King. Josephine Gordon became only the second woman in the United Kingdom to ride more than 100 winners in a calendar year (2017).

However, in the 2016-17 season South Australian Jamie Kah (130), Linda Meech (127) and Rachael Murray (118) topped the ton. Kah is in fourth position in the National Jockey's table on 69 wins.

The talent scout who sent Zac Purton to Hong Kong has recommended Kah to be the first female import to get a permanent riding gig there, possibly the most demanding turf theatre. Regarded by most as highly talented in the saddle but a tearaway on the ground at the time, Purton has developed into an exceptional rider on every level.

Alas with women in racing, Honkers is more in line with the British tradition, slow on parity although Florence Nagle succeeded in court action in 1966 to get a trainer's licence.

According to Robin Oakley in The Spectator, The Jockey Club refused women the right to train for obscure reasons: "Women are not persons within the rules," one official opined, maintaining the stiff resistance, while another reckoned they were in danger of "falling into the hands of bad men.

"Prejudices have receded but only so far," Oakley added.

Consider, too, the French racing authority, which has introduced a two-kilogram "gender allowance" for most races. Imagine how our women jockeys would lap that up.

It was worse in Doha, Qatar. Kirsty Milczarek came down in a race and paramedics refused to treat her. She was picked up by the farrier's van and deposited at the ladies' change room.

Sure, the UK moved earlier but Australia and New Zealand were more receptive to female participation.

Of course, Gai Waterhouse was our Nagle. Yes Betty Lane led the charge for them to get a licence to train at Randwick but Waterhouse fought like no other against the Australian Jockey Club for her ticket to train.

The AJC refused to grant her the opportunity with no explanation but her husband Rob Waterhouse and Fine Cotton scandal were regarded as the catalyst.

Finally she won in the Court Of Appeal and Australian racing received one of the most significant contributors to the industry in my time or any other for that matter.

Not only is she a great trainer of horses but jockeys, with King, who left the UK a major contender for obscurity, a prime example. Those who come under the Waterhouse wing are better for the experience. King is joining the graduates that include Blake Shinn and Nash Rawiller.

Horses run for King so don't be daunted by long odds about her mounts. On New Year's Day she was beaten on Napoleon ($61) but only by a short half head.

Also last Monday Lucy Warwick, 20, had a better result in the Perth Cup at Ascot in West Australia on Material Man, triumphant by a nose.

Warwick was only the second female to win the $500,000 2400m staying test. "I'm just relieved it's over. I was out in front a long time by myself," she said.

"I felt like spewing up behind the gates I was so nervous."