After a three-month stint on the sidelines following her part in the infamous Mornington Airbnb Five, Jamie Kah has got on the board on her second day of riding.
And she picked the right race to get back into winning form, guiding the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Smokin’ Romans to victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday.
Kah returned to race riding at Mornington on Friday registering two second placings before heading to The Valley that evening for two unplaced rides.
She had been winless on her earlier rides at Pakenham on Saturday before giving Smokin’ Romans the ideal journey on Saturday.
“It’s great, terrific to be back, it’s amazing, I’ve missed it greatly,” Kah said.
“To come back and get a winner like that is very rewarding and I’m just happy to be back.”
Tracking the speed set by Think We’re Due, Kah allowed Smokin’ Romans, the $3.50 favourite, to stride to front soon after straightening and going on to beat Good Idea ($10) by two lengths with Team Captain ($5) the same margin off third.
Kah had ridden Smokin’ Romans only once previously, to a victory at The Valley in July, and the gelding on Saturday showed the training regime of Maher and Eustace with the stayer being in work for the majority of 2021.
“He is an absolute legend,” Eustace said.
“He’s been in work over a year, and he just keeps turning up. He loves his racing and he’s just getting better and better.
“He’s a funny horse, he’s always had his quirks, but he was really, really good today, he got a lovely ride and he’s a favourite in the stable.”
Eustace said Saturday’s win was possibly Smokin’ Romans best performance and the logical next step was for the gelding to head to the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
“Longterm, we think he could be a contender for the Adelaide Cup (3200m),” Eustace said.
Eustace said it was great to see Kah back in action and he was pleased the stable was able to provide her with her first winner back.
“She’s just a natural and a very gifted rider and that’s a rare thing,” Eustace said.
“She’s got it and horses run for her.
“That horse really stretched for her today and she took the initiative, it wasn’t really the plan to be so far forward, but she just went on with it.”