Kaye Jay has come a long way since his first competitive effort under the care of Clayton Douglas.
Now Douglas is contemplating setting Kaye Jay for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in May after the gelding’s maiden win at Sandown.
Having his second race start, Kaye Jay ($5) scored a strong three-quarter length win in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Plate on Wednesday from Mr Independent ($9.50) with Butterscotch ($15) a long neck away third.
“This horse has taken leaps and bounds from the time he arrived,” Douglas said.
“I think he got beaten 20 or 30 lengths in his first ever jump-out. He was completely hopeless, but he has taken that improvement, and you like to see that in three-year-olds, especially staying types.
“I haven’t had to train him up too much this time, he’s got there himself and to run well at his first start and then win at his second, he can definitely go forward.”
Sandown Hillside Race 1 | Kaye Jay
After finishing 2nd on debut, the @c_douglasracing 3YO goes one better, stepping up to a mile in town 👊🏻
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy pic.twitter.com/80TO3LInFc— Racing.com (@Racing) February 4, 2026
Kaye Jay finished a debut second at Cranbourne last month and certainly appreciated the wide-open spaces at Sandown on Wednesday.
Initially Douglas was disappointed with Kaye Jay’s wide draw, but jockey Jamie Mott was able to get the gelding into a lovely spot.
Douglas pointed to the early speed which enable Mott to take that position before the pace slackened.
While Wednesday’s race was over 1600m, Douglas is looking forward to seeing Kaye Jay step out in trip and believes he will develop into a lovely four or five-year-old.
“I would like to think he could be an Adelaide Derby type,” Douglas said.
“He’s a big, strong horse.
“With the facilities (of owner Barb and Barry Saunders) at Deniston Park, we can chop and change things with the Mornington stable.
“He’s a horse with plenty of substance there and when he gets out to those staying trips he should really come into his own.”
