Saturday’s Group 1 Lexus Toorak Hcp (1600m) at Caulfield was a triumph for South Australia as Jamie Kah guided the Phillip Stokes-trained Mr Quickie to an authoritative two lengths victory.
It was the second stakes win and second Group 1 for the son of Shamus Award who claimed the Queensland Derby at the expense of future Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare in June last year.
Kah gave the top-weiight a ground-saving ride only going around the one horse, the tiring Achernar Star, to set out after the frontrunner Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission) who had no answer to Mr Quickie in the final hundred metres to go down by two lengths. Willie Pike also took the shortest was home on Superstorm (Sebring) who was a half-length back in third.
“This is amazing. I’ve been hanging out to ride a Group 1 for an Adelaide supporter of mine and I finally did it,” Kah enthused.
“He’s just been doing a few things wrong this boy, he’s not been jumping and giving them a head start and you can’t be doing that in these races. ”
“He’s such a talented horse on his day and they’ve found the trick to him keeping him fresh and I’d love to stick with him now.”
Phillip Stokes has the Group 1 Cantala Stakes on October 31 on the radar for the 5yo gelding.
“Full credit to Wylie Dalziel and all the owners, we bounced a lot of ideas off each other, including (part owner) Peter Moody, and we thought this was the best way to go and he's found his best form," Stokes said.
“Jamie Kah, what a booking, she gave him a peach of a ride and he hasn't jumped that clean for that long and it was really nice to watch."
Mr Quickie was a $115,000 Magic Millions purchase for Dalziel Racing from the Rosemont Stud draft. He was also bred by
Rosemont, who remain in the ownership and now stand his sire Shamus Award.
With 10 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds from 23 starts, Mr Quickie takes his earnings to $1,686,050.
He is the first foal of Special Favour, a General Nediym winner at 2200 metres from Group II winner My Tusker, whose grand-dam is champion Kiwi mare Horlicks, who won the Japan Cup in world record time.
Horlicks many notable descendants include Melbourne Cup winner Brew and Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Fiumicino.
Mark Pilkington Management purchased a Nostradamus colt out of Special Favour for $125,000 out of the Milan Park draft at last year’s NZB Yearling Sale at Karaka.
She has a yearling filly by Sacred Falls and was covered by Shamus Award again last season.
Shamus Award had another good day. The Rosemont stallion sired the very impressive 3yo filly Swatds That who captured the Group III Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) earlier on the card.
