Jamie Kah boots home five winners including Adelaide Cup aboard Daqiansweet Junior

Jamie Kah enjoyed a day out at Morphettville, securing the Group 2 Adelaide Cup aboard Daqiansweet Junior while landing five winners on the program.

Jockey Jamie Kah hold the trophy aloft after winning the Adelaide Cup on Daqiansweet Junior Picture: Michael Marschall

Jamie Kah has been the toast of South Australian racing for a decade and after years of trying, the hometown girl finally has her hometown cup safely in her keeping.

The superstar jockey has won major races around Australia but this one holds a special place in her heart after she produced a peach to guide Phillip Stokes’ progressive stayer Daqiansweet Junior to a memorable victory in Monday’s Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m).

Kah, who burst onto the scene in 2012 to win the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership as a teenage apprentice before going on to take Melbourne by storm, enjoyed one of the great days, collecting five winners – headlined by the Cup and three Listed races.

It is a day that neither Kah, nor the 5500 patrons on course, will forget.

“It’s pretty cool. Family, friends, it’s a very happy environment, a happy day - I love being back here,” the 26-year-old said of the rare trip home.

Jockey Jamie Kah on Daqiansweet Junior (far left) storms to victory in the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on Monday - Picture: Michael Marschall

“This is definitely up there. It’s always been a race I’ve wanted to win.

“I‘ve got close before but to do it at home in front of friends and family – and for Phil and his team and (owners) OTI – is very special. I couldn’t have planned it any better.”

Daqiansweet Junior jumped the $4.20 favourite and settled midfield on the rail, enjoying a sweet run in transit throughout.

The race changed complexion down the back when Damien Oliver whipped around the field aboard Aurora’s Symphony to inject some pace into the race with he and last year’s winner Good Idea making a bold bid for glory on the home turn.

But Kah kept building momentum aboard Daqiansweet Junior and had the last shot at them, beating Tigertiger ($4.60) by a length-and-a-half with Future Score ($17) in third.

“The first time I sat on him I thought this horse was going to be the ideal Adelaide Cup horse,” Kah said.

“Out there anyone could ride him, he‘s just a dream. He comes back, he stops, he starts and they never really run a genuine tempo here.

“He was just beautiful. I almost messed up, I got off the back of Tigertiger – I probably should‘ve waited – but I got back on his heels on the turn and then got out.

“I was really rapt with how strong he was late, I thought this horse might not be that genuine before but today he was 100 per cent honest. Once I got out I was pretty confident.”

Daqiansweet Junior has now won five of his past six starts – finishing second in the other – and Stokes is amazed at his progression.

Jamie Kah wins her first Adelaide Cup on DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR! ⭐️@RacingSA@pstokesracing@[e-mail]/ZtokxPyC2L

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 14, 2022

It means the Sydney Cup is now on the agenda while connections are likely to embark on a Melbourne Cup campaign in the spring.

“This horse was going around in a Class 1 at Moe in October – (to do this) in one prep, it‘s amazing,” Stokes said.

“He‘s got a such a good attitude, he relaxes beautifully and Jamie gave him a peach of a ride.

“The Sydney Cup is definitely on the radar. We actually took Good Idea up there last year and he didn’t disgrace himself, so we’ll just see how the horse pulls up and we’ll reassess.”

Stokes, who made a name for himself in South Australia and now operates stables out of both Morphettville and in Victoria, made sure he would enjoy the celebrations after having to fly back to Melbourne before Good Idea’s win last year.

“It’s fantastic, it’s your hometown cup,” Stokes said. “We got a big thrill out of it last year, I wasn’t here, so it’s a big thrill to be here this year.”

Daqiansweet Junior was the headline act of Kah’s memorable day, but she also tasted success on Bistro, Tullys Gold, Ironclad and Ancient Girl.

Originally published as Jamie Kah boots home five winners including Adelaide Cup aboard Daqiansweet Junior