By David Nagel
Champion jockey Jamie Kah has returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time in more than three months after a brilliant victory aboard the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace-trained Smokin’ Romans in the Listed $300,000 Pakenham Cup (2500m).
Kah had a smile from ear-to-ear after giving the five-year-old gelding a dream run in the cup, run in front of an enthusiastic crowd for the first time since 2019.
Smokin’ Romans was never threatened in the straight, holding off the local challenge of the Phillip Stokes-trained Good Idea to win by two lengths on the line, with the Matt Cumani-trained Team Captain two lengths further back in third.
Kah was ecstatic after riding her first winner since piloting the Peter Moody-trained Invincible Caviar to victory at Sale on August 22.
Kah has recently returned to the track after being suspended for attending an illegal gathering during Victoria’s Covid-19 lockdown.
“It’s amazing, I’ve missed it greatly, I love the horses and that’s why I do it, and to come back on a day like today, with the crowds here, and get a win like that it’s very rewarding,” Kah said after the race.
“I’m just really happy to be back.”
Smokin’ Romans has had an incredible campaign, with his Pakenham Cup win his 14th start in 2021, with nothing more than a five-week freshen up between runs.
“They’re amazing horses, and this horse is just the same, it makes you really give credit to Dave (Eustace) and Ciaron (Maher), they have had this horse up for so long and I’ve never seen him look this good,” Kah said.
“I knew I had a fit horse underneath me, so if I needed to go if I got challenged, I could, but I wanted to give him the easiest ride I could early.
“He does it all himself this horse, he can feel them coming and he quickens up when they get to him.
“He was just amazing out there today. It made my job easy.”
Eustace was equally impressed with one of his stable favourites.
“He is an absolute legend, he’s been in work over a year and he just keeps turning up, he loves his racing and he’s just getting better and better,” Eustace said.
“He’s a funny horse, he’s always had his quirks, but he was really good today and probably the best he’s been. He’s just growing up, he’s just a popular winner and a real favourite at the stable.”
Eustace said Smokin’ Romans was thoroughly deserving of victory after a close-up second in the Group-3 Bendigo Cup.
“He was a little bit stiff in the Bendigo Cup, we just put the blinkers on today and he got in a lovely spot,” he said.
“Jamie did what she does, she rode him as he jumped, and he jumped well, and she just let him stride and got him in a beautiful rhythm and it’s great to have her back…she’s a star of the sport and she showed why today.
“She’s just a very naturally gifted rider, it’s a rare thing, she’s got it, the horses run for her and that horse stretched very well for her today.
“She took the initiative, it wasn’t necessarily the plan to be so forward, but he jumped well and she went on with it.
“It’s good to have her back.”
