The Jamie Kah show rolled on at Morphettville with the champion jockey taking out the feature, $300,000 Group II Adelaide Cup (3200m) on Daqiansweet Junior.
It was a New Zealand-bred quinellla as the Phillip Stokes-trained son of Sweet Orange charged home from midfield to defeat the Zed gelding Tigertiger by one and a half lengths.
The Matt Cumani-trained Future Score (IRE) (Cape Cross), remarkably the lone European import in the race, was a further two lengths back in third.
Carrying the colours of OTI Racing, Daqiansweet Junior started his career in New Zealand with Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, for whom he won twice and was Group III placed.
Bred by Gillovic Bloodstock, Daqiansweet Junior was purchased privately by OTI Racing on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.
Daqi
"This horse was going around in a class 1 at Moe in October so what he has done in one prep is amazing," Stokes said.
"He is a kiwi bred horse, and getting him trained out of a paddock was a big start. We put him through his grades, and he has such a good attitude and relaxes beautifully.
"Jamie gave him a peach of a ride. The weights probably anchored (last year's winner) Good Idea late. He ran enormous, but Junior is a horse on the up.
"It’s fantastic to win your hometown cup. I wasn’t here last year, so it is good to be here this year.
“Sydney is definitely on the radar. He is nominated for the Sydney Cup. We took Good Idea there last year, and he didn’t disgrace himself.
“We will see how the horse pulls up and take him straight back to Victoria and reassess.”
Regal Farm consigned Daqiansweet Junior to the 2019 NZB Ready To Run Sale, where he failed to make his $50,000 reserve.
He is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the unraced Keeper mare Paulette.
Daqiansweet Junior becomes the second stakes-winner for former Highview Stud resident Sweet Orange (USA). The son of War Front was a 2yo winner in Ireland and won the Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin.
