Superstar jockey Jamie Kah and Godolphin colt Traffic Warden primed for The Everest

Jamie Kah explains explains why she chose to ride in The Everest over the Caulfield Cup this weekend.

A special connection to exciting Godolphin colt Traffic Warden was the catalyst for superstar jockey Jamie Kah to forgo a plum ride in the Caulfield Cup for the $20m The Everest.

Kah, fresh off a three-week suspension, has five rides at Randwick on Saturday including Tom Kitten, also for trainer James Cummings, in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes.

The forced holiday and a paddock full of ponies at home ridden mad has Kah, who chose to ride in The Everest over Zardozi in the Caulfield Cup, tuned to strive for a new career peak.

“I’m definitely blessed with my horses, I’ve been riding every day,” Kah said.

“It doesn’t feel like I’ve had any time off at all.”

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Traffic Warden in March sparked Kah’s best day on a racetrack to date, an emotional Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes win, which included the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap on Cylinder.

Kah suffered career-threatening injuries last year, in a nasty fall in the Sires’, and spent six months on the sideline.

“I’m not an emotional person but I got very, very teary after that win,” Kah said.

“From the races he’s been to where he’s going, this time in he’s definitely improved a hell of a lot, I’m not saying he’s going there as the one to beat but he’s right in it.

“He’s probably never found better form before, I galloped him Tuesday and god he’s feeling well, he’s bouncing off his head, he used to be a good horse but he’s just improved lengths.”

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Traffic Warden is a $7 third favourite in The Everest with Ladbrokes from Joliestar ($6) and I Wish I Win ($6.50).

“Looking forward to it (riding in The Everest), I wish the two races were split so I could ride in both of them, Caulfield Cup as well,” Kah said.

“It’s quite frustrating we have to pick one race, that’s what happens this time of year Sydney and Melbourne.”

Jamie Kah will ride Traffic Warden in The Everest. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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Zardozi is a $7.50 equal second favourite for the Caulfield Cup.

Kah has ridden Traffic Warden three times for two wins.

Her only defeat on the colt was by a nose in the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ last campaign.

“He’s improved a fair bit (now as a three-year-old), last two runs he’s gone to another level,” Kah said.

The travelled up to Sydney last Tuesday to ride Traffic Warden and Zardozi coincidently at Godolphin’s pristine private training centre Osborne Park.

The 14-time Group 1-winner will return to the Harbour City on Saturday morning, committed to a fly in, fly out routine established last autumn.

Kah welcomed barrier two for Traffic Warden, touched off last start in the Group 1 Golden Rose by superstar stablemate Broadsiding, her mount for the Cox Plate on October 26.

“It’s obviously a very high pressure race,” Kah said of The Everest.

“I don’t feel like there will be that much speed this time, Everests have been pretty hot races the last few year, I just feel the speed they’re going to run is not going to be electric early.

“Drawn in barrier two I’ll be able to put him wherever I want, I won’t give (jockey and fiance) Ben (Melham) too much of a rap, he did ride him (Traffic Warden) a treat last start.

“You can press him out of the gates and use him up for the first 100m if you need to and he’ll come straight back to you and I think in an Everest it’s going to suit him down to the ground.”

Originally published as Superstar jockey Jamie Kah and Godolphin colt Traffic Warden primed for The Everest