It was a case of Deja Vu as the first two home in last years Group II TAB (Linlithgow) Stakes (1200m), Kemalpasa and Order Of Command, were the first two over the lineagain twelve months later.
With the Craig Williams in the saddle, Kemalpasa took up the running down the Flemington straight, and the 5yo son of Magnus was strong to the line.
The Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained gelding defeated Order of Command (Squamosa) by with Bold Star (Needs Further) back in third.
Kemalpasa had not won in five starts since last years triumph but indicated a win was not far off when a close-up third behind Zoutori and Dollar For Dollar in the Group II Gilgai Stakes at his most recent start.
“We set him for this race a fair while ago, and he seems to love the straight. We had options to run elsewhere, but we decided to run him in this race, and it paid off,” Richard Jolly told Racing.com from Morphettville.
“He has really come on from his last run, and we were reasonably confident today. It’s hard to be too confident in a Group II on Derby day, but he is going as good as ever and probably better than he was last year.
“I’ll have a talk to Nev Morgan tomorrow and see where we head. He is nominated for Perth, and the Magic Millions is an option.”
A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for Richard Jolly from the Kulani Park draft, Kemalpasa runs in the well-known colours of Neville Morgan.
The son of Magnus has been a model of consistency with a record of ten wins, six seconds and three thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $734,000.
Kemalpasa is the first foal of Yarra Bank, a half-sister by Bianconi (USA) to stakes-winner Honest Politician. Yarra Bank also has a two-year-old colt by Magnus who was purchased by Mark Ganderton for $50,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Yarra Bank was covered by Impending last spring.
The sire of 22 stakes-winners, Magnus stands at Sun Stud at a fee of $15,400.
