The eight-race card at Ballarat saw one jockey rule the roost

There were four winners from six rides on the Ballarat card on Wednesday for Jamie Kah as she proved hard to beat. 

After her horrific fall at Flemington in March 2023 it was a quick return to the saddle for Jamie Kah but the first few months were not easy. Winners have flowed early in 2024, including some huge Group 1 successes before smashing in the winners on Wednesday. 

2023 was a year to forget for Jamie Kah but it was also one that seems to have given her even more of a drive to succeed than she already had. Confidence is a huge thing for any jockey and there is no one in Australia right now who is riding with the same level that Kah is.  

Ballarat domination on Wednesday 

Softening conditions at Ballarat on Wednesday was no issue for Jamie Kah who saluted in each of the first four races on the card. All of those were maiden races, showing an excellent touch when it comes to educating horses and getting them to show their best. Three of the four winners came for trainer Michael Hickmott. Togetherforever was a $1.30 shortie in the opening race of the day but was also the most impressive winner on the card, saluting by 3.75 lengths. Spirit Of Camelot would salute in race two for the combination at $2.50 before High Five would bring up the Hickmott treble at $2.05 in race four. 

James Cummings was responsible for Kah’s other winner with Snack Bar getting the job done in race three for the Godolphin team at $1.70. Kah had another two rides for Godolphin in the last two races on the card but she was unable to add to her earlier maiden winners in the handicaps. Simplicity was far too keen early and then didn’t get the cleanest run up the straight before Juggle was never really competitive in the last when finishing sixth. 

Three Group 1 winners so far in 2024 

Kah has saluted in 12 Group 1 races so far in her career and three of those have come in the first quarter of 2024. They began with Hayasugi in the Blue Diamond at Flemington on February 24, a filly who would then give Kah a horrible ride in the Golden Slipper next time out at Rosehill when pitching out the barriers and then bumping off the rails, almost unseating Kah twice. 

Southport Tycoon saluted in the Australian Guineas the following Saturday to give Kah another roughie winner. Hayasugi was $16 and Southport Tycoon was $19. Cylinder would win the Newmarket another seven days down the line at $11 to give Kah a special run of winners and at some big prices. There were no short-priced ones to be seen which makes the feat even more impressive. 

Could the Doncaster Mile also fall for Kah? 

Another Wil is the favourite with the horse racing bookmakers for the Doncaster at Randwick on Saturday afternoon with Kah in the saddle. He is improving at a rapid rate, not long since he was seen winning a BM64 at Sandown in mid-January and now he heads the market in a Group 1. 
 
He has a car park draw in 21 this weekend which is going to make his task much more difficult but the way that Kah is riding, it would be foolish to write off one of the most progressive horses in the entire country ridden by a red-hot hoop. 

With almost 1,250 winners on the board at the age of 28, Kah is one of the top talents in Australian racing. She has taken things to a new level so far in 2024, not only on the big Saturday cards but also at the midweek meetings as well.