Deny Knowledge (+270) has led just about every step of the way in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes to give Jamie Kah her third winner from the first five races on Champions Day at Flemington.
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai jumped well from the barrier and even though she took a while to cross the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained runners, Osmose (+650) and Soul Choice (+3300), the Michael Kent-trained galloper found the lead and set an even tempo.
Kah gave her mount a good mid-race breather at the 800m mark before ramping the speed up again on the home turn, as Osmose went with her and took a comfortable lead on the rest of the field.
With over three lengths between the leaders and the rest of the field, it was clear that Deny Knowledge and Osmose were going to fight out the finish, as they settled in for a ding-dong battle in the final 200m.
After being headed by Osmose, Deny Knowledge kicked back and got her head down on the line to get the photo and claim her first Group 2 victory of her career.
The Kris Lees-trained Amokura (+700) was heavily backed before the jump, but after jumping slowly and settling last, she had to make up several lengths to finish third, beaten half-a-length on the line.
2023 Matriarch Stakes Replay – Deny Knowledge | T: Michael Kent | J: Jamie Kah
Michael Kent was very complimentary of his mare and Jamie Kah’s ride when he spoke post-race.
“She’s a really good mare and the only time she hasn’t run well this prep was when she’s gone too hard,” Kent said.
“At Caulfield, both times she’s run there, she went too hard. They had that big disco there and it really seemed to upset her.
“The plan was to run her on Saturday to have the edge off for today and I’ve got to say that midrace I thought we were going too slow.
“I said to Jamie 12, 12, 12, 12. She let her slow down to 12.8 but her strength is that she can maintain that gallop as long as she sits around that speed.
“Great to have Jamie on. She rode her last week and full of confidence, she was.
“She’s as good a jockey as I’ve ever seen.
“I’ve had a lot of apprentices and she’s as good a jockey as I have ever soon. A beautiful horsewoman and very relaxed.
“First winner she has ridden for me and I’m glad we’ve finally got one.”
Jamie Kah brought up her third winner on Champions Day, and she spoke post-race.
“Mick said to let her do her thing. Don’t push her, don’t pull her,” Kah said.
“When she drew wide she jumped a little bit slow but I let her do her thing to get to the front and he’s got this horse flying. Her run last start was super.
“Mick has timed it to perfection with her. She was good the other day.
“That (last run) took the edge off her. She was a darling to ride today.
“She relaxed, she settled. That helped her get the win in the end.
“I didn’t really care if one of Gai’s horses kicked up.
“I just wanted to ride her out. I was happy to cruise along outside of them.
“She relaxed and that really helped her. She’s a talented horse.”
More racing news
