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Jamie Kah admits she was uncomfortable riding in the windy conditions in stewards probe over Let’sfacethemusic ride

Jamie Kah conceded she wasn’t at her best as she explained her ride in last Saturday’s McNeil Stakes in a reopened stewards inquiry.

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Racing Victoria stewards heard more evidence from star jockey Jamie Kah for her ride on Let’sfacethemusic at Caulfield last Saturday.

Stewards on Wednesday reopened their adjourned inquiry into the ride to hear from Kah, Let’sfacethemusic’s managing owner Phil Edwards and vet Dr Dave Shepherd.

Kah told stewards she didn’t ride well generally last Saturday and felt uncomfortable in the windy conditions.

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She added Let’sfacethemusic was “a very difficult horse to ride” with a tendency to lock its jaw under riding pressure.

Kah highlighted parts of the race where she dropped her hands to regain control of the colt.

She said a gap in front of her, inside the last 200m of the Group 3 McNeil Stakes, was there for a stride and gone the next.

The champion rider conceded the gap appeared more evident upon watching the head on replay with stewards, but remained adamant in the run the room was not as clear cut.

“I don’t know if I was riding with a lot of confidence,” Kah told stewards on Wednesday.

“I just didn’t feel like rode that well on Saturday.”

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Kah has watched the replay “many times” since.

“I saw it (gap) moving in front of me and I don’t know, I didn’t feel comfortable taking the run,” Kah said.

“I don’t take runs that aren’t there and at the point in the race, I didn’t feel like there was a run there for long enough to take.”

Jamie Kah told the reopned stewards inquiry she felt uncomfortable in the windy conditions at Caulfield last Saturday. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images
Jamie Kah told the reopned stewards inquiry she felt uncomfortable in the windy conditions at Caulfield last Saturday. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Kah has an excellent record in relation to careless riding indiscretions.

She said the wind made it difficult to hear (jockey calls and horses) last Saturday.

Kah added she looked to her outside, having made a decision to go around Stay Focused, who finished third, when the gap appeared and by the time she looked forward again it closed.

Barrister Matthew Stirling supported Kah in the inquiry as an observer only.

Fifth-placed Let’sfacethemusic finished 4½ lengths behind winner Growing Empire.

Manager owner Phil Edwards said the colt was a victim of circumstance.

“No luck in running whatsoever,” Edwards said.

“Small field and I think there was nowhere to go whatsoever, one of those variables in racing, doesn’t play out as you wish.

“Circumstances didn’t go our way and work our way in any way shape or form, a tragic beaten, unfortunately.”

Dr David Shepherd inspected Let’sfacethemusic last Sunday and said the colt pulled up fine.

Stewards adjourned the inquiry to a date to be fixed to consider the matter.

Originally published as Jamie Kah admits she was uncomfortable riding in the windy conditions in stewards probe over Let’sfacethemusic ride

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/jamie-kah-admits-she-was-uncomfortable-riding-in-the-windy-conditions-in-stewards-probe-over-letsfacethemusic-ride/news-story/305fcb55f21cf98ae89fe7b37c2a6e31