Brisbane’s Queensland Oaks is a likely winter target for the talented Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained filly Coco Sun following her good win over the boys in the 2024 South Australian Oaks on Saturday.
2024 SA Derby winner Coco Sun (pictured in 2023) is likely to head to Brisbane for a shot at the Queensland Oaks this winter. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Ace hoop Jamie Kah celebrated her first ever elite level success in her home state returning to Morphettville to partner the nicely-bred The Autumn Sun three-year-old Coco Sun to victory in the Group 1 $1 million South Australian Derby (2400m).
The filly was on the quick back-up after her good third with Kah aboard in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) the weekend prior, after which Kah had been adamant the filly could handle the seven-day turnaround into the Derby.
“Very exciting. These are the races we like to win,” co-trainer Tony McEvoy told the media after the race.
“This filly is a really good filly.
“Kah was so bullish about backing her up.
“She had so much faith in her. She wanted to bounce out and put her there (on speed). The only question I had was the 2500 (metres)…but you don’t argue with Jamie Kah!
“She just gave her a beautiful trip and the filly ran it beautifully.
“She’s (Kah has) been a star forever and I love her.
“Very special.”
Kah gave the eventual winner an impeccable ride, putting the filly in the box seat third the fence, switching her off in the run before sneaking up the inside and never having to go round another horse the entire trip.
The Andrew Gluyas-trained Air Assault went out deep on the track, crossing to lead the field around for the 151st running of the SA Derby.
The recent Port Adelaide Guineas winner was backing-up form a third in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes and just kept finding, still holding a narrow lead around the home bend.
With 250m left to travel, Kah moved up on Coco Sun who hit the front, while Warmonger was flashing down the outside late.
Coco Sun having saved ground was too strong and went on to win by 1.3 lengths, while Warmonger put in an enormous performance making up all the ground for second.
Air Assault never gave in either, running out the 2500m well to hold for a brave third having done all the work in the lead.
McEvoy confirmed plans that, should Coco Sun come through the run well, a trip to Eagle Farm on June 8 for the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) was likely on the card.
“I think there’s five weeks now until the Queensland Oaks,” he said.
“If she’s well, we’ll go to the Oaks.”
Latest all-in 2024 Queensland Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Coco Sun into $7 to win and are available in full here.
2024 South Australian Derby Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | COCO SUN | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Kah | 8 | 54.5kg | $5 | |||
| 2 | 7 | WARMONGER (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Damian Lane | 1.3L | 12 | 56.5kg | $6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | AIR ASSAULT | Andrew Gluyas | Jason Holder | 2L | 11 | 56.5kg | $26 | ||
| 4 | 1 | ANTRIM COAST (NZ) | Stephen Marsh | Michael Dee | 3.7L | 5 | 56.5kg | $7.50 | ||
| 5 | 16 | AHURIRI (NZ) | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 4.2L | 9 | 54.5kg | $4.80F | ||
| 6 | 12 | TULSA KING | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jake Toeroek | 4.4L | 15 | 56.5kg | $31 | ||
| 7 | 5 | GOLD WOLF (NZ) | David & Coral Feek | Neil Farley | 5.6L | 1 | 56.5kg | $31 | ||
| 8 | 4 | BOLD SOUL (NZ) | Patrick Payne | Jake Noonan | 5.7L | 10 | 56.5kg | $9 | ||
| 9 | 8 | OUTOVSTOCK (NZ) | Chad Ormsby | Opie Bosson | 6.2L | 16 | 56.5kg | $15 | ||
| 10 | 13 | STEEL BLAZE | Brett Lazzarini | Dom Tourneur | 8.7L | 7 | 56.5kg | $101 | ||
| 11 | 14 | WARIALDA WARRIOR | John Ramsey | Darryl McLellan | 8.9L | 14 | 56.5kg | $61 | ||
| 12 | 11 | JUST BERRILLIANT | Ricky Maund | Jeffrey Maund | 10.9L | 6 | 56.5kg | $61 | ||
| 13 | 10 | SHINJUKU (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Todd Pannell | 12.1L | 2 | 56.5kg | $61 | ||
| 14 | 2 | SUNSETS | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Jacob Opperman | 13.5L | 3 | 56.5kg | $18 | ||
| 15 | 9 | A SAMURAI MIND | Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | Lachlan Neindorf | 13.6L | 4 | 56.5kg | $31 | ||
| 16 | 6 | GLAD YOU THINK SO | John Sargent | Blake Shinn | 112.1L | 13 | 56.5kg | $13 | ||
| 19e | JUST EXPLOSIVE (NZ) | Simon Zahra | 0 | |||||||
| 18e | MAPUTO | Pat Carey & Harris Walker | Rhys McLeod | 0 | ||||||
| 17e | ZAKOUMA | Pat Carey & Harris Walker | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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