Gollan Home Run Out of The Park

A late charger and a brave frontrunner have outgunned some of the country's highest rated gallopers to provide trainer Tony Gollan with an unexpected quinella in the $700,000 Gr1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Just as star local Jim Byrne aboard reigning Magic Millions Snippets winner Jonker looked set to hold out his rivals, highly regarded stablemate Vega One stormed home for a famous stable one-two. Superstar South Australian rider Jamie Kah was at her brilliant best, able to weave tight runs between challengers to get her charge home with a stunning late burst. Vega One, who won last year's Magic Millions Cup on the Gold Coast, was finishing so fast he held a widening half-length margin on the line. "That is just so good," an excited Gollan said. "I'm just so proud of these horses. This horse (Vega Magic) had a major injury last year just after the Stradbroke and he had a long time in rehab. I didn't know where to look. I thought Jonker was going to hang on and then I saw him (Vega One) behind a wall of horses and then off he went." Gollan gushed, "It's unreal. One-two in a Group 1 here at home - this is home now - it's just fantastic. Jamie Kah doesn't ride up here much, but gee I hope she's here a bit more often. There were no instructions, we just said to ride him as he felt during the race." The win for Kah was the sixth at the elite level meaning she is now the most successful female rider of Group 1s in Australian history. Vega One is a son of star international sire Lope de Vega and was bred on the famous paddocks of Emirates Park and sold on their behalf by Stockwell Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.