TAB South Australian Derby (Group 1)

THE Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Explosive Jack completed a treble of Derbys with victory in the Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville. Having won the Listed Tasmanian Derby back in February, Explosive Jack won the Australian Derby at Randwick in April before tackling Saturday’s 2,500 metre Group 1.

With Johnny Allen up, it was the Irish-born jockey’s fourth win in the race in the past six years. “I love being here,” said Allen. “I have good luck when I come here. I love riding on the big track and it gives every horse a good crack at the race. I’ve just been lucky enough to get on the right horses.”

Cruising around the bend three-wide and hitting the front at the top of the straight, Allen kept Explosive Jack focused to win comfortably by almost three lengths over his stablemate, the Dundeel colt Let’s Karaka Deel with his namesake Ben Allen in the saddle.

A further three lengths away in third was the Fiorente colt Nobel Heights.

Striking position

“He is a momentum horse,” explained Allen. “I was happy to have three-wide with cover. It was a bit messy a little bit down the back but I was happy to be in striking position and he just took me into the race. He was always comfortable and travelled well. I knew he wasn’t going to worry about running out the trip and when he let down, he was just too good.”

By the ill-fated Irish-foaled Jakkalberry, who died from a gut infection at the Cambridge-based Novara Park in 2018, Explosive Jack has now won five of his eight starts and over A$1.7 million in earnings, having been purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Sale for NZ$100,000. His three-year-old season may continue with Ciaron Maher suggesting the Queensland Derby on May 29th May is an option. “The team have managed him really well. He’s been to all our locations and, you never know, he may end up in Queensland yet,” said Maher. “He certainly didn’t look like he was slowing down today.”

JAMIE Kah dominated Saturday’s Caulfield meeting riding five winners, completing her straight flush in the last race. Highlighting her popularity, her five winners were all for different trainers; Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Richard Laming, former jumps jockey Richard Cully, David Jolly and Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr. It was the first time the 25-year-old had ridden five winners at a metropolitan track.

“It’s exciting,” said Kah. “Awesome day and awesome week for the family with Clayton having a great day on Thursday (winning the Grand Annual Steeplechase).” Kah now sits 31 wins clear at the top of the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership with 86 wins, well in sight of Brett Prebble’s record of 99.5 winners with 21 meetings remaining.

“I would really like to get that 100 city metro wins in Victoria,” added Kah.

Exciting Aryton

Kah’s most anticipated ride of the day was on the Iffraaj gelding Aryton, who moved to two wins from as many starts and is now a $3.50 favourite for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 12th.

Kah has now ridden her 1,000th winner after yet another double at Pakenham on Wednesday. Melbourne’s premier rider bought up the milestone just days after riding five winners at the Caulfield meeting.

Arcadia Queen to be sold

LEVIATHAN West Australian owner and breeder Bob Peters is sending his top shelf racemare Arcadia Queen to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on May 25th.

A winner of $3.9 million with eight wins from 16, including three Group 1s, she follows hot on the heels of Peters selling Celebrity Queen at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on May 8th.

The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner by Redoute’s Choice topped the sale, selling for $2.5 million to Coolmore.

“Not much of her family has ever gone to auction and I’m not very popular with much of my family for the decision to sell her,” said Peters of the five-year-old daughter of Pierro who was retired after sustaining a tendon injury in March.

“She was a world class racehorse with huge ratings and really could have been anything.”

The record at the Magic Millions sale stands at the $4.2 million paid last year by Tom Magnier for the three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight.

Also joining Arcadia Queen at the Magic Millions sale will be the champion New Zealand mare, and 14-time Group 1 winner, Melody Belle who will have her 41st and final start in the Group 1 Doomben Cup on May 22nd.

“Melody Belle has been an absolute life changer for her connections,” said syndicate manager John Galvin of the Commands six-year-old. “My wife Jessica has a share and is one of 34 individual owners who are spread right across New Zealand as well as one in Melbourne.”