Jamie Kah was the Queen of Mornington on Saturday landing an almost perfect afternoon with five winners for the day.
With bookings in six of the eight races, Kah missed aboard former South African galloper Najem Suhail which finished sixth as the $3 favourite in the Ibuild Group Handicap (1000m).
With wins on Wee Nessy, Mrs Sissy, Holster, French Emperor and Saracen Knight, in the day’s feature, the Listed R M Ansett Classic (2400m), Kah equalled her best performance of five winners on a program at Caulfield in May last year.
The haul moved her to the top of the Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership after Damian Lane, Mark Zahra, Craig Williams and Ben Melham headed to Sydney to ride at the Golden Rose meeting at Rosehill.
Kah on Friday night took out the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley aboard Coolangatta and has the chance to add to that on Sunday when she partners favourite Zaaki in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown.
Kah had to use Saracen Knight’s toughness to squeeze out of a pocket before the home turn in the R M Ansett Classic, but in the end, it was easy work for the Danny O’Brien stayer.
Sent off the $3.30 favourite, Saracen Knight raced away from early leader Verimli ($51) to score by 2-¾ lengths with Harmysian ($5) a further 3-¾ lengths away third.
“It got a little bit tricky to get out, but once he was out, he had a turn of foot,” Kah said.
“The team has done a really good job keeping him fresh and fit at the same time.”
Beau Dunn, representing the O’Brien stable, said Saracen Knight had been contesting Benchmark races where the stable had been using an apprentice claim without any luck.
He said getting Kah aboard had helped turn around Saracen Knight’s form.
With a stable full of potential Cups horses, Dunn was unsure what lay ahead for Saracen Knight.
“Danny’s got a lot of stayers coming through at the right time, like Young Werther, Vow And Declare, Midnight Blue and even Wyclif,” Dunn said.
“We’ve got to pick a path for all of them and who gets to the top, we’ll know in a couple of weeks.”
