Ciaron Maher praises Jamie Kah for ‘ride of the day’ aboard A Little Deep in Chautauqua Stakes win at The Valley

Ciaron Maher lauded Jamie Kah’s handling of A Little Deep after the mare charged home from last to beat odds-on favourite Arkansaw Kid in the Chautauqua Stakes at The Valley.

Jamie Kah and A Little Deep round the field to win the Chautauqua Stakes at The Valley on Saturday. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Premier trainer Ciaron Maher was happy to give star jockey Jamie Kah the “ride of the day” prize with half of Saturday’s Valley card remaining.

Maher lauded Kah’s handling of lightly-raced mare A Little Deep after the five-year-old charged home over the top of her rivals to claim the Listed Chautauqua Stakes, which was the fifth of 10 races at Saturday’s meeting.

Maher noted A Little Deep had a little quirk that helped her around The Valley but also required perfect handling from Kah to get the best out of the Deep Field mare.

“She lays in a fraction and horses that lay in a bit, they really tend to ping off that (home) bend,” Maher said.

“It was the ride of the day.”

A Little Deep has a little too much for them🔥

The @jamieleekah07@cmaherracing team does it again! pic.twitter.com/Dxt5s4orwF

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 7, 2024

Kah was happy to keep A Little Deep at the back of the field for most of the race before following well-performed Kiwi galloper Desert Lightning into contention from the 500m.

A Little Deep surged past Desert Lightning, who fought on valiantly under 61kg on debut for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, to score by a length.

The $1.85 favourite Arkansaw Kid had every chance but was no match for A Little Deep, who jumped from Benchmark 84 grade to become a stakes winner.

“It was just a beautiful ride by Jamie,” Maher said.

“You could see her on the back of Moods’ horse (Desert Lightning) just waiting for when the right time to push the button was.

“You knew there was a bit of horse there, so full credit to her.”

Kah said A Little Deep surprised her with her sharp acceleration, adding the would be happy to stick with the mare in the coming weeks.

“She feels like a pretty smart horse and wherever Ciaron decides to send her I’ll be putting my hand up for her, that’s for sure,” Kah said.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Lincoln Rocks would not be denied at The Valley on Saturday, fighting out the finish from Gentian Blue and Lauding.

Lauding touched off Lincoln Rocks last start at The Valley but the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained favourite turned the tables on Saturday under jockey Mark Zahra.

“I just loved the way he fought it out late. He showed real determination over that final 150 to really dig in and find the line,” Archibald said.

“I thought Mark gave him a lovely ride, he just summed it up beautifully in the first 100 metres.

“I’m just so pleased for the owners. It hasn’t been the most straightforward ride with this horse, they’ve had to be very patient, but just starting to get rewards now.”

The consistent New Zealand import Lincoln Rocks has won three of five Australian starts and placed twice.

Lincoln Rocks makes it another for the Neasham/Archibald camp! 💪@ANeashamRacing@Rob_Arch1pic.twitter.com/AGgEiGCEFZ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 7, 2024

JAMES WINS RACE NAMED AFTER CUMMINGS CHAMPION

It was fitting James Cummings won the Listed So You Think Stakes with Pericles.

So You Think was the last champion trained by the late training legend Bart Cummings, the grandfather of the Godolphin trainer, who won two Cox Plates with the stallion.

Pericles started as the $1.90 favourite but gave his backers little cause for concern as he defeated the eye-catching Muramasa ($34) and the consistent placegetter Pounding ($12).

“This was his race to win today,” Pericles’ jockey Blake Shinn said.

“The planning for this horse - we could have run him last week in the Group 1 (Memsie Stakes) - but I think there was a little bit sentiment to run this horse in this race.

“I’m just glad we got the result.”

Pericles makes easy work of the field in the So You Think Stakes! 👏@blake_shinn for James Cummings pic.twitter.com/43OKhJmlxN

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 7, 2024

Originally published as Ciaron Maher praises Jamie Kah for ‘ride of the day’ aboard A Little Deep in Chautauqua Stakes win at The Valley