The South Australian success at the 2024 Adelaide Racing Carnival continued with the brilliant win by Coco Sun in last weekend’s Group 1 SA Derby.
It was the perfect homecoming for Jamie Kah and the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable, Kah claiming a sought-after first Group 1 win on home spoil, while for the McEvoy’s it was their second Group 1 win in as many months following their George Ryder success in Sydney with Veight.
It was her 13th Group 1 win, but none have meant as much to Kah who crafted her early career in Adelaide.
It was a Kah masterclass, getting the filly into the perfect spot behind the speed from a sticky gate before they drove to the lead on straightening and held off a fast-finishing Warmonger.
“It’s all I wanted to do, to ride a Group 1 winner back home,’’ Kah said.
It was easy to overlook the run of local Air Assault, who was again massive after racing up on speed to hold down third placings for Jason Holder and trainer Andrew Gluyas.
Kah’s Derby win was the icing on another memorable day.
Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained The Map taking the first step towards a potential Melbourne Cup start when she scored an emphatic win in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
It was another perfect ride by Kah, tracking the only horse considered a danger First Immortal before the pair let down impressively in the home straight to score a 3.7 length win.
“She felt like a 1200m horse,’’ Kah said.
“I just had to coast and cruise on her everywhere, that’s what I was hoping for last start in the Adelaide Cup – maybe we’re just waiting for the Melbourne Cup,’’ she said.
Kah’s feature double overshadowed a massive day for local jockey Todd Pannell who landed three winners.
He was on the wrong side of favourite punters early when $81 chance Geminga scored for Gary Boyce, following up with a $31 chance in East Indiaman before he provided dual licensed horseman Dylan Caboche with the biggest win of his career when Delightful Shecky scored an impressive win in the SA Sprint Series Final.
“This means a lot,’’ Caboche said.
It was a huge win, overcoming the wide gate, Pannell doing exactly what the pair spoke about during the week – “trusting the process”.
Ben, Will and JD Hayes grabbing another SA feature when Poifect gave Michael Dee an armchair victory in the Listed Adelaide Guineas.
