New Zealand-bred gelding Klabel capped a consistent run of form with a welcome return to the winners’ circle in the A$120,000 Listed Adelaide Galvanising Industries Christmas Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
The son of Vadamos has now had 31 starts for seven wins, 13 placings and A$586,220 in stakes.
The Christmas Cup was Klabel’s first win since August 2024, but his 15 starts since then had produced six runner-up finishes, three thirds, two fourths and two fifths.
Leading into Saturday, his 2025-26 preparation had been made up of a third in an 1100m Benchmark 100 at Caulfield on September 20, a third in a 1200m handicap at Cranbourne on October 10, a second behind Jigsaw in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley on October 25, a fifth in the Listed Fisher Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 8, a ninth in the A$1 million Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on November 22 and a last-start third in an 1100m handicap at Ballarat on December 6.
The six-year-old returned to his home state of South Australia on Saturday and was right back at the peak of his powers.
Klabel jumped quickly from his wide gate and sat outside the early leader Vexatious Dancer before pushing forward to take command coming up to the home corner.
He bounded away into a clear lead with 300m remaining, but found himself under siege when Grinzinger Prince and the favourite Watchme Win loomed on either side of him at the 100m mark. Klabel kept finding and held them both at bay, scoring a narrow but determined victory in a three-way photo finish.
“I know he doesn’t find a great deal of sprint, but he can really hold his tempo to the line, so I was quite happy to put the pressure on nice and early and make them chase me,” winning jockey Jake Toeroek said.
“He had the challengers on both sides, but fought really hard in the last 100m. I was confident on the line, but didn’t want to be too confident. I was glad to see my number up when I got back.
“He’s been a bit unlucky in Melbourne, drawing awkward alleys and the races haven’t worked out in his favour. He is a horse that needs things to go his way.
“He’s never far away, he’s a very honest galloper, and it’s good for him to finally get a win on the board.
“He hasn’t had many of those next to his name in recent times, but he’s always picking up a cheque. It’s great to get this win for the ownership group – Neville Morgan and his family, along with the other owners. They’ve been great supporters and I’m happy to pay them back.”
Klabel is trained at Morphettville by Richard and Chantelle Jolly.
“I initially thought the inside horse might have got us on the line, but watching the slow-mo, we knew we were back in the game,” Richard Jolly said. “It was a good win. He deserved to win a race. He’s been running really well in Melbourne without quite getting there.
“He drew inside barriers in a couple of those Melbourne races and we rode him a bit more positively in good-speed races, which didn’t suit him. Today there was a bit of a lack of tempo in the race, and we decided to roll forward, which worked out well.
“Neville Morgan owns this horse along with John Naffine and Craig Fitzgerald’s Bula Bula Syndicate. This is a great result for them and there’ll be a nice celebration tonight.”
Klabel was bred by Alan Galbraith and by Vadamos is out of the Hidden Dragon mare Ardere, a winner over 1050m.
Richard and Chantelle Jolly went to $120,000 to purchase Klabel as a yearling through the Rich Hill Stud draft at Karaka 2021. The father-daughter team returned to Karaka last January and bought a Satono Aladdin half-sister for $160,000. – NZ Racing Desk.
