South Australian Derby (Group 1)

A DELIGHTED Jamie Kah saluted the crowd on crossing the line aboard the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun in the South Australian Derby to claim her first Group 1 win at Morphettville in her home state.

“All that I wanted to do was ride a Group 1 winner in Adelaide in front of Mum and Dad and family and all those that have supported me” said Kah. “I had so many years here riding with Tony and so many winners and he looked after me so well, so it’s nice to repay him. He put up with a lot of rubbish back in the day too.”

Jumping well from a middle gate in the 16-horse field, Kah took the initiative and settled the filly by The Autumn Sun a pair back from the lead and on the rail. Not spending a penny, Kah slipped through on the rail as the field swung the final bend to tackle Air Assault who’d controlled the race to that point.

Hitting the front with 250 metres remaining Coco Sun had enough grit to win the A$1 million race by over a length from the fast-finishing War Decree gelding Warmonger as the Justify gelding Air Assault held third.

Much faith

“Jamie had so much faith in her. She said to me she wanted to bounce out and put her there, and the only question I had was the 2,500 (metres), but you don’t argue with Jamie Kah. She gave her just a beautiful trip and the filly stayed it beautifully,” said Tony McEvoy.

“I can’t thank her (Kah) enough for what she did for my brand and my stable. She kept beating me and I thought ‘how am I going to change this?’ The only way I could do it was to get her on board. Sadly, she out-grew me, which was always going to be the way, but she’s been a star forever and I love her.”

The win completeness consecutive Group 1s for Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun who trifected last week’s Austalasian Oaks where Coco Sun ran third, having also ran fifth in November’s Victoria Oaks at Flemington. Coco Sun will now head to Queensland for a Group 1 Queensland Oaks challenge.

THE first leg of Jamie Kah’s group double at Morphettville on Saturday came in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2,500 metres.

Riding for Adelaide trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray, The Map won like the $1.85 favourite she was producing a defiant display to win by four lengths.

The Alpine Eagle mare defeated the Redwood mare Crimson Vine and the Churchill gelding First Immortal to book herself a trip to Flemington to contest the Andrew Ramsden on May 18th which carries a ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup.

“When they go out at $1.90, or whatever, you’re always relieved. I just love that horse and every time she does something like that, my heart explodes,” said Oopy MacGillivray.

“She tried her heart out. I just love her. Let’s hope she pulls up from this and she can go to May 18th and the Andrew Ramsden, and we can get that golden ticket. The thing about the Melbourne Cup is that especially now, it’s harder for a local horse to get in.

“But that’s the start. We’re nearly in it, but we keep giving ourselves that chance.” Bought for A$35,000 from the Adelaide Magic Millions, The Map has now won five and placed four times from 16 starts earning over $540,000.

TOM Sherry piloted debut Australian runner Coco Jamboo to a win in the $250,000 Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown at Hawkesbury on Saturday over 1,300 metres.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the Irish-bred Massaat filly was purchased for 160,000 Guineas at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale.

A three-time winner for Marco Botti, Coco Jamboo’s last win was at Newmarket in October in a fillies and mares rating 90 over seven furlongs.

“It’s not easy to win with these imports at their first Australian starts,” said Peter Snowden. “You are going in cold, you don’t know much about them, and you want to see them run a few times to learn about them as our racing is different altogether to what they are used to.

“But occasionally you get these imported horses who take to our racing and training straight away like (dual French-bred Group 1 Doomben Cup winner) Huetor. The good ones can do it, so for Coco Jamboo to win a stakes race first-up is a great result.

“Tommy Sherry rode her early in her preparation and wanted to stick with her. He noticed something from day one. She’s a nice mare.”