Jamie Kah’s special connection with South Australian trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray driving her Melbourne Cup ambition

Superstar jockey Jamie Kah could have a choice of rides for the Melbourne Cup but there’s one horse high on her wish list.

Superstar jockey Jamie Kah is adamant Melbourne Cup underdog South Australian mare The Map has the attributes to contend on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.

While Kah’s spring availability remains somewhat in limbo, with a Victorian Racing Tribunal matter to be heard on Thursday, lightweight Cups contender The Map is high on her carnival wish list.

The Map, given 50kg in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, qualified for the race that stop a nation with a victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington last June.

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Kah is travelling to Murray Bridge, SA, on Friday to visit The Map’s trainers and long-time friends Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray, as a Melbourne Cup Tour ambassador.

“I think she’s (The Map) right in it (Melbourne Cup), 100 per cent,” Kah said.

“I’ve got a few others floating around but if it was between her and another horse, without being a superstar, I’d take her any day, but I’ll leave that to my manager.”

Jamie Kah is eager to combine with The Map in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

The Map is $26 in TAB’s all-in Melbourne Cup market.

The Map was pipped in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup last campaign but clinched a Group 3 and multiple Listed wins, including the Andrew Ramsden, in the breakout preparation.

Kah said The Map would only improve racing against better quality horses in the spring.

“She’ll stay all day and I don’t actually think (the Melbourne Cup) is an absolute superstar favourite’s race,” Kah said.

“They need be so much more than just a talented horse, she’s talented but, god, she’ll stay and she’s so tough.

“The class of the Melbourne Cup will suit her, just having horses to take her into the race.”

Kah lived with Clarken and MacGillivray for three years, while her house was being built nearby, before the move to Melbourne in 2019.

“They dropped everything for me and looked after me, just perfect people,” Kah said.

“She (MacGillivray) became like my second mother, a beautiful lady, she’s a very good cook too, and Dan’s good at making caramel pie, I used to get caramel pie every week!”

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Just the thought of riding The Map in the Cup has Kah on tenterhooks.

“I’m not one that gets nervous or whatever before races but to ride The Map for them, I’d be very, very nervous,” Kah said.

“It would mean the world to them, especially with an Adelaide horse.”

Ironically, Kah will be trying to beat The Map and others on Saturday in The Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield aboard Saint George.

“They know I can’t ride her in every lead-up, I’m going to ride Saint George for Ciaron (Maher), it’s a freak that thing, a freak,” Kah said.

“Nothing has given me that sort of feel when I galloped it at Caulfield before last start, it’s a freak of a horse, an absolute freak.”

Saint George was luckless in his Australian debut last month, held up to run eighth, beaten just under two lengths, in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes.

Saint George, a $3.50 favourite for the Foundation Cup, must finish top three on Saturday to be eligible for the Caulfield Cup – a win would assure the stayer a start in the Group 1 spring major.

Originally published as Jamie Kah’s special connection with South Australian trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray driving her Melbourne Cup ambition