Widden Stud recruit Magnus showed why he is the king of VOBIS stallions when his son Mahamedeis captured the $250,000 Surewise Vobis Gold Heath at Caulfield - but that was the appetizer for a day when winners came from as far afield as Alice Springs, Kalgoorlie and Kyneton and a Group III triumph at Morphettville.
Nick Ryan’s 6yo gelding Mahamedeis edged past $1.1 million in earnings at Caulfield to win the race for that notable milestone against the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Kemalpasa.
A year younger than Mahamedeis, Kemalpasa took his record to 12 wins, seven seconds and four thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $963,135 following a two-length defeat of Humma Humma (Denman) in the R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville.
The winner’s stablemate Dexelation (Ambidexter) was a neck back in third.
While Mahamedeis became a millionaire without a black-type win, Kemalpasa added the Irwin Stakes to back to back wins in the Group II VRC Linlithgow Stakes, Group III MRC Kevin Heffernan Stakes and Listed SAJC Durbridge Stakes.
“It was a good watch for the stable. ‘Kema’ won really well, and Dexalation ran out of his skin, so it was a good result for us,” Richard Jolly said.
“He strained a muscle in his shoulder (in this race last year), and he had to miss the Goodwood.
“That is behind us, so now we are hoping to get him into the Goodwood this year, touch wood, nothing goes wrong.
“It was a good win today, and he looks well-weighted with the weight scale heading into the Group 1.
“I think he will go there without another race. I would not like to run him in a handicap with 62kg. We can keep him fit enough by ticking him over with a barrier trial or a gallop here on raceday and go fresh to the Goodwood in four weeks.
“Jake (Toeroek) has been riding him since he was a yearling, so he has a good association with him. Jake missed a couple of wins on him in Melbourne through Covid, so it is good for him to get the win today.”
A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for Richard Jolly from the Kulani Park draft, Kemalpasa runs in the well-known colours of Neville Morgan.
Bred by Tasmanian Jenny Watson, the handsome chestnut son of Magnus has been a model of consistency. He is the first foal of Yarra Bank, a half-sister by Bianconi (USA) to stakes-winner Honest Politician.
Watson’s Macleay Thoroughbred Stud purchased Yarra Bank for just $8,000 at the 2014 Inglis August Thoroughbred Sale and has proved a sound investment.
She has a two-year-old colt by Magnus, who Mark Ganderton purchased for $50,000 out of the Alva Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Now owns by Rob Crabtree, Yarra Bank has a weanling filly by Impending and was covered by Merchant Navy last spring
Magnus will stand under the Widden Stud banner for the first time in 2021 after the famed Hunter Valley nursey purchased Sun Stud in Victoria.
