| A late charger and a brave frontrunner have outgunned some of the country’s highest rated gallopers to provide trainer Tony Gollan with the quinella in today’s Group One $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm. |
Just as star local Jim Byrne aboard reigning Magic Millions Snippets winner Jonker looked set to hold out his rivals, highly regarded stablemate Vega One stormed home for a famous stable one-two. Superstar South Australian rider Jamie Kah was at her brilliant best, able to weave tight runs between challengers to get her charge home with a stunning late burst. Vega One, who won last year’s Magic Millions Cup on the Gold Coast, was finishing so fast he held a widening half length margin on the line. “That is just so good,” an excited Gollan said. “I’m just so proud of these horses.” “This horse had a major injury last year just after the Stradbroke and he had a long time in rehab.” “It’s been a long range mission to get here and then into the Stradbroke with him. This doesn’t get any better – this is great!” “We’ve had a torrid time with him this prep, a few niggles. I was really happy with his work here on Tuesday morning, but we were on a knife’s edge if we would even be here this week with little things going wrong.” “I didn’t know where to look. I thought Jonker was going to hang on and then I saw him (Vega One) behind a wall of horses and then off he went.” “It’s unreal. One-two in a Group One here at home – this is home now – it’s just fantastic.” “Jamie Kah doesn’t ride up here much, but gee I hope she’s here a bit more often. There were no instructions, we just said to ride him as he felt during the race.” The win for Kah was the sixth at the elite level meaning she is now the most successful female rider of Group Ones in Australian history. “I wanted to get held up a bit, but not for that long,” she said moments after the thrilling win. “I needed a run desperately in the end. (Midrace) I was in a lot of trouble on him. I have to thank Bossy – he told me everything about this horse.” “It’s just amazing – awesome,” Kah summed up. Vega One is a son of star international sire Lope de Vega and was bred on the famous paddocks of Emirates Park and sold on their behalf by Stockwell Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Just a couple of weeks before Vega One was sold at the Morphettville auction his half sister One More Honey won the Group Two Sweet Embrace Stakes. Her trainer John Thompson was quick to snap up Vega One. After a handful of runs in New South Wales the rising star was transferred to Queensland where he joined the Gollan stable and quickly made his mark as a horse to watch. Four runs into his Queensland life he won at stakes level and in January last year he provided connections with a huge payday when winning the $1 million Magic Millions Cup. Vega One’s dam One Funny Honey has been a great mare for Emirates Park after her purchase for $50,000 at the Patinack Farm Complete Dispersal in 2014. When Emirates purchased One Funny Honey she had One More Honey at foot and the subsequent Group Two winner’s first foal, a colt by Not a Single Doubt, sold for $1.8 million at January’s 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Winner: Vega One Breeding: Lope de Vega-One Funny Honey (Distorted Humor) Race: BRC Kingsford-Smith Cup G1 (1300m) Sold for: $75,000 Breeder: Emirates Park Pty Ltd Sale: 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale Vendor: Stockwell Thoroughbred (As Agent for Emirates Park) Buyer: John Thompson Earnings: $1,498,900 Owner(s): Grandlodge Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: P Anastasiou), Ken Bee Sports (Aust) Pty Ltd (Mgr: KE Biddick), Emirates Park (Mgr: NAH Lootah) & D Findlay Trainer: Tony Gollan (Eagle Farm) |
