Mick Price had a day to remember at Morphettville winning the Group 1 South Australian Derby with Jungle Magnate.
It was a huge 45 minutes for Price, co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr and jockey Mark Zahra, winning the Listed Adelaide Guineas the race prior with one of Australia’s most exciting horses, Illation.
But the Derby was special - Jungle Magnate being a son of Tarzino, who Price trained to win a Victoria Derby.
“We paid $60,000 for Tarzino, and that stallion is doing a good job,’’ Price said.
“We’ve got a few we think go quite good.
“This time next year and I reckon we’ll have a big strong Tarzino back here for it,’’ he said.
Jungle Magnate put any doubts over his staying ability to rest on the back of a perfect ride by Mark Zahra who seized the opportunity to scout wide rounding the home turn where they shot to the lead before holding Yaphet and the well-tried Detonator Jack.
“He’s one of the best Group 1 riders in Australia,’’ Price said.
Zahra said he was more than comfortable in the run once Jungle Magnate had settled over the 2500m journey before the pair unleashed what proved a race winning run.
“Mick said just midfield somewhere,’’ Zahra said.
“My main objective was to get him to switch off, we were back near last but he was very relaxed, and it was a matter from the 1000m of picking the path
“When I asked him let rip, we hit the front early, but he was strong,’’ he said
