It’s only fitting that it’s taken a superb steer to score victory in the inaugural running of the Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m), as Jamie Kah chalked up a winning double in the final race of the Derby Day program at Flemington.
Cause For Concern (+1000) savaged the line under Kah when the gaps came, giving the Shawn Mathrick-trained gelding a much-deserved win after a campaign without much luck.
Damien Oliver tried to ensure the eventual winner never saw daylight, as Vilana (+600) loomed as a danger to the leading stablemate Tamerlane (+280) who also gave a strong kick turning for home.
Bandersnatch (+2500) was unlucky being forced to travel along a three-wide line throughout the 1400m contest but was still there when the whips were cracking.
It was a three-way go to the line, with Cause For Concern powering away from his rivals, bringing up his fifth win at start 13.
2023 The Damien Oliver Replay – Cause For Concern | T: Shawn Mathrick | J: Jamie Kah
Shawn Mathrick spoke about his ever-consistent galloper post-race and credited Kah on an elite steer.
“If I read one more time ‘oh this horse has been up for a long time’, I’ll go off the West Gate, I tell ya,” said Mathrick.
“This horse is flying. Last start he got pushed off the track. The start before Benny probably pushed the button too early and he got flattened.
“I’ve had big wraps on this horse since we’ve had him and today he was the real deal.
“I said to Jamie, if you jump and you’re midfield, don’t panic. You can give weight, don’t give ground so she said she’ll get a beautiful run from there.
“I thought we were going to be a bad luck story in the straight but, God, she’s a brilliant rider.”
Jamie Kah spoke post-race and was elated with ridding a winning double for Derby Day.
“It’s very nice,” said Kah.
“I had to be very patient, I think it helped this horse in the end, not saying he needs to be saved for the last minute but it definitely helped him today, I think when he’s exposed too early he might think about it a little bit but today he had to be brave and it paid off.
“I rode him on Tuesday and he was the quietest horse I’ve ever ridden. He doesn’t show much at trackwork so I didn’t give him much of a feel.
“He (Shawn) is a champion, good for him, I’ve had a great day.”
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