Jamie Kah thrilled to be riding ‘freak’ Doncaster Mile favourite Another Wil for ‘beautiful people’ Colin and Janice McKenna

Jamie Kah concedes she will need to “work some magic” on Doncaster Mile favourite Another Wil but insists he is still going to be “very hard to beat”.

Rain, hail or flood, star jockey Jamie Kah is the master of her own Doncaster Mile destiny.

Favourite Another Wil can win the $3m Group 1 from a wide draw, not the worst should the races go ahead, with more than 70mm (best result) and up to 100mm to hit Randwick.

Kah’s bid for a second Doncaster since 2021, “a very special” win on Cascadian, hinges on her execution from barrier 17, at worst, after scratchings.

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“I liked what Ciaron (Maher) said, I’ll have to ‘work some magic from there’ but if we get in (cover) and get a good run I think he’s going to be very hard to beat,” the 12-time Group 1-winner Kah said.

“If it is chopped up on the inside and they get off the fence I should be able to slot in, especially with this weight, he’s going to love the ground, he won’t care about the ground.

“It’s really up to me, in the end, if I give him a good ride he’s going to be hard to beat.”

Another Wil, one of six Maher runners in the Doncaster including first emergency Nugget, is a $3.70 favourite with TAB from Celestial Legend ($8), Militarize ($9), Obamburumai ($9.50) and Lady Laguna ($10).

Kah was set to ride Australian Guineas winner Southport Tycoon ($17) but switched last Saturday after the “freak” Another Wil romped in the Doncaster Prelude to qualify.

Another Wil raises the bar again today! 💥

He wins a ticket into the Doncaster Mile. 🤝@[e-mail]/cKmPQEy4IG

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 30, 2024

Southport Tycoon syndicator Nathan Bennett graciously afforded Kah the opportunity to make her decision after the Doncaster Prelude.

Kah’s loyalty and appreciation for Another Wil’s owner-breeders Colin and Janice McKenna made it “impossible to say no to them”.

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“The horse is a freak as well, but the ownership group, they have done so much for me throughout the years, in the end it was pretty easy,” Kah said.

“Colin and Janice have been there throughout everything the last (12 months), to win a Group 1 for them would be unbelievable.”

Kah has ridden for the McKennas, successful Warrnambool-based Victorian business owners and philanthropists, since her apprentice years.

Janice was a moral support for Kah last year during her recovery from a severe concussion.

“Janice probably called me once a week, at least, they’re just beautiful people, the things they do for the general public and people around them is unbelievable,” Kah said.

“She (Janice) does so much for everybody else, never worries about herself, she’s just amazing.”

Jamie Kah has described Another Wil as a “freak”. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

The Prelude has yet to produce a Doncaster winner from 21 starters – four third placings the best result.

Another Wil could be the exception.

“He feels like he’s cantering still,” Kah said.

“He’s got such a big stride, it doesn’t feel like he’s worked out how to accelerate and quicken yet.

“He’ll run well on the weekend but he still hasn’t worked out what he’s doing yet, I don’t think.”

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Home-bred Another Wil has been a revelation the past 12 weeks, going from Benchmark 64 to Group 3 winner in four starts.

Maher took a punt in 2010 to buy Another Wil’s dam Arohanui for $30,000 as a yearling in his early cash-strapped years as a trainer.

She showed promise, winning two of five starts and $40,000 prizemoney, before a career-ending injury.

Through the disappointment, Maher insisted mentor McKenna breed from Arohanui.

Another Wil is the fourth of five foals out of the late mare, including Wil John, a Jericho Cup (4600m) and Grand National Hurdle (4200m) winner, and Wahine Toa, a multiple city performer.

Jamie Kah will be chasing a second win in the Doncaster Mile on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Another Wil, originally pegged as a Warrnambool May Carnival candidate, extinguished those aspirations with Caulfield and Flemington wins by a combined 7¾ lengths.

“I thought he was nice after I won on him at Sandown, I thought he could win a decent race in town and then when he won at Flemington I thought he’s a freak, he’s next level,” Kah said.

“It was nice to see him do it against a good class (Group 3) last start, I thought I was right, I thought he was a freak, but it was nice he did it.

“He doesn’t feel like a cheap little home-bred, he’s a monster, a big horse, he covers the ground so easily.

“I gave him a few hits (in the Prelude) because, he didn’t need them, but his ears were pricked, he still hasn’t worked out how to get out of first gear yet.

“He’s doing everything off raw ability at the moment.”

Originally published as Jamie Kah thrilled to be riding ‘freak’ Doncaster Mile favourite Another Wil for ‘beautiful people’ Colin and Janice McKenna