Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy and jockey Jamie Kah celebrated a momentous victory on Saturday with talented filly Coco Sun coming up the inside to win the 2024 South Australian Oaks at Morphettville.
Coco Sun (pictured in 2023) won the 2024 SA Derby on the quick back-up off a third in the Oaks. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
This triumph marks Kah’s first ever Group 1 win in her home state, making the occasion even more special.
Coco Sun, a beautifully bred daughter of The Autumn Sun, entered the race after a close third-place finish in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) the prior week.
Despite the quick turnaround, Kah remained confident about the filly’s ability to handle the demanding South Australian Derby (2500m).
“Very exciting. These are the races we like to win,” co-trainer Tony McEvoy declared 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 delivered a masterful ride, positioning Coco Sun perfectly in third place on the inside, saving ground in the box seat before flashing up the rails once on the straight.
This tactical brilliance allowed them to avoid having to go around any rival, ultimately securing them the victory.
Andrew Gluyas’ Air Assault led the pack for much of the race, but with 250m remaining, Kah made her move.
Coco Sun surged ahead, holding off a late challenge from the fast-finishing Warmonger from the back to claim victory by a comfortable 1.3 lengths.
Air Assault, despite leading for a significant portion of the race after crossing from out wide, displayed admirable stamina to finish a close third and round out the SA Derby trifecta.
Following this impressive win, McEvoy has confirmed that the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 8th is the likely next stop for Coco Sun, barring any unforeseen setbacks.
“I think there’s five weeks now until the Queensland Oaks,” McEvoy noted.
“If she’s well, we’ll go to the Oaks.”
Coco Sun’s performance has certainly captured the attention of punters, with Ladbrokes placing her at $7 to win the Queensland Oaks.
This South Australian Oaks victory is a significant milestone for both Coco Sun and her connections.
With the Queensland Oaks on the horizon, the future looks bright for this talented filly.
2024 SA Derby Results
| 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 | ||
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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