Jamie Kah rounded out one of the most eventful days in her decorated career with victory in Saturday’s Victoria Derby at Flemington aboard Goldrush Guru.
The star rider won the $2 million Group 1 for the first time just over an hour after her participation in the second half of the day was brought into question when stood down by the club doctor after being head-butted by Hurry Curry prior to the running of the Wakeful Stakes.
Kah earlier scored an emotional win aboard Another Wil, whose owner Colin McKenna died last weekend, while she also incurred a 10-meeting suspension for causing interference aboard Kuroyanagi in Race 2.
Kah was cleared to resume commitments after the Wakeful and became the second female jockey to win Australia’s oldest Classic, following in the footsteps of Clare Lindop, who won aboard $101 shot Rebel Raider in 2008.
Rebel Raider was trained by Leon Macdonald, the former training partner and father-in-law of this year’s winning trainer Andrew Gluyas.
“It means everything to us,” Kah said.
“Obviously we love riding Group 1 winners, but it just makes it so much more special when it’s for some fantastic people like Andrew.
“I used to ride for Andrew and Leon – I rode some shockers back in the day for them – so it was nice to repay them on the big stage on Derby Day.”
Goldrush Guru ($8), who enjoyed a lovely run in the one-out, one-back position took control early in the straight and powered home to defeat Scary ($41) by 1-1/2 lengths with China Sea ($11) third.
Gluyas has had a connection with Goldrush Guru’s family for generations, with the colt a relation to former Macdonald-trained star Gold Guru, and he was thrilled to celebrate his biggest win in racing on arguably the biggest on the calendar.
“We often talk about Derbies, Leon won the SA Derby with French Cotton and that’s the name for the French Cotton Lodge at home,” he said.
“We had a great run of horses running in the Derby and Gold Guru won the AJC Derby. Rebel Raider then stood up in ’08 and won the VRC Derby and then won our (SA) Derby.
“We had a few near misses with Hydrometer. It’s folklore.
“When we prepare them and you get a good result like this, it’s great that we can talk about Goldrush Guru again.”
Goldrush Guru provided American Pharoah with back-to-back wins in the Victoria Derby following the win of Riff Rocket last year in what was the fourth win of his eight-start career.
El Castello, the $3.90 betting sites favourite who was striving to complete the Spring Champion Stakes double, went back from his outside barrier and worked home well to finish fifth, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, without ever looking a winning hope.