Sydney two-year-old form proves too strong as promising colt Traffic Warden scores for Jamie Kah

Godolphin colt Traffic Warden brought strong form to Caulfield and didn’t let his supporters down with a dominant win under Jamie Kah.

Traffic Warden and Jamie Kah win the opening race at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Traffic Warden franked the strong Sydney two-year-old form to win the 1000m Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.

The James Cummings-trained son of Street Boss enjoyed a beautiful ride behind the speed under star jockey Jamie Kah and sprinted quickly late to put a margin on Express Yo’self.

Traffic Warden hunted up along the rail on debut at Rosehill a fortnight ago to run second behind Storm Boy, the favourite for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Gold Coast.

Welcome to Melbourne 🤝@jamieleekah07 nailed the ride aboard Street Boss colt, Traffic Warden 🚦@godolphinpic.twitter.com/eHwBHB30PZ

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 16, 2023

Kah endorsed Traffic Warden’s potential on Saturday after her first sit on the colt.

“Even going to the gates I felt like he’s a really nice horse,” Kah said.

“He comes back to you and he’s got a beautiful big action on him, I’m glad he jumped well because we didn’t want to be too far away.

“Even though last start he got a fair way back and ran home, he was push button when I pushed him through the gap, he took it, he’s a classy horse.

“He took a few strides to get going so I think he’s going to be even nicer over a bit further, once we got to the lead the last 100m was just easy for him.”

Jamie Kah was impressed with Traffic Warden at Caulfield. Picture: Getty Images

Traffic Warden returned $1.75 with TAB on Saturday.

I’m Kenough and Little Stirrer rounded out the top four.

The first-starters challenged together down the middle of the track but could not bridge the gap.

Little Stirrer, trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, was three and four-wide the trip facing the breeze.

Moor’s top work pays off for Pascero

Jockey Daniel Moor’s tactical homework paid dividends with Pascero upstaging the more fancied opposition in Saturday’s 1400m Open Handicap at Caulfield.

Moor gave Pascero a squeeze out of the barriers to ensure the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper could settle closer in the run given a tendency to step slowly from the machine.

With Dubai Poet dictating terms, as expected, the move inside the first 200m of the race worked wonders inside the last 200m as Pascero swept by the favourite Dubai Poet.

Bermadez, trained by Michael Moroney, finished strongly to grab second from Anthony and Sam Freedman-prepared Dubai Poet.

Pascero beats Bermadez again! 😍

He's found his mojo this prep for @busuttin. pic.twitter.com/bEYgieNDcr

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 16, 2023

“He’s a tricky horse,” Moor said of the winner.

“He’s got an awful habit of being slow out and therefore putting us on the back foot tactical, especially in a race like today that looked like being controlled by Dubai Poet.”

The five-year-old gelding won two starts back at Flemington then finished last in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield but only beaten 3½ lengths.

The drop in grade on Saturday suited six-time winner.

“He’s a nice horse when he puts it all together,” Moor said.

“His last two especially, his win at Flemington, the rating produced out of that was more than competitive for this sort of race, he flew under the radar a little bit in the betting.”

Pascero returned $10 with TAB.

Originally published as Sydney two-year-old form proves too strong as promising colt Traffic Warden scores for Jamie Kah