Kah times her Spacewalk perfectly

A masterful ride by Jamie Kah helped the talented Spacewalk record his second Stakes victory when successful in the G3 Rising Fast Stakes down the Flemington straight 1,200m course on Saturday, 4 November.

Kah held the four-year-old son of Exosphere back to the field behind the tearaway leader Najem Suhail until the final 100m.

Spacewalk grabbed the front in the dying stages and held off the fast-finishing Crosshaven to win by a short head, with the game Najem Suhail a head away in third place.

Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings praised Kah’s ride after she’d partnered the gelding to a narrow second at Caulfield two weeks earlier.

“Jamie just got the timing spot on,” Cummings said.

“The horse has been flying this preparation.

“He won well first-up and he got his head in front in the Caulfield Sprint, so I felt a bit for Jamie.

“She was just forced to make her run a little earlier than she liked last time, but she was very confident this afternoon that the horse would be hard to hold out.

“Jamie was convinced that if she had the right horse to follow, and could save Spacewalk for his final dash, then he’d be pretty hard to hold out.

“He’s gone well again and good to see Jamie time it perfectly.”

The win was a boon for Kah after a lean winning run.

“I’d love it if that horse (Najem Suhail) was in every one of his (Spacewalk’s) races because he needs a bum to follow,” the former premier jockey said.

“The other day he just got there (front) too soon.

“He’s got a short sprint in him and needs another horse in front for a long time.

“It was perfect today and I knew Naeim Suhail couldn’t maintain it (pace) so I was patient and just kept waiting.”

Spacewalk improved his record to five wins and eight placings from 18 starts for prize money earnings of $643,075.

Kingman filly Zardozi only has to please Cummings in the next few days to be a definite starter in the G1 VRC Oaks (2,500m) next Thursday after her terrific second in the G2 Wakeful Stakes.

Giving 2kg to the winner, Amazonian Lass, Zardozi charged home from midfield for leading rider James McDonald to be beaten a half-head. Harlow Mist was a widening 2.3 lengths away in third place.

The three-year-old fillies will carry equal weights in the Oaks and Cummings has always wanted to see Zardozi race over a longer distance.

At Rosehill Gardens, stablemates Pericles (Ben Melham) and Golden Mile (Zac Lloyd) filled the placings in the Golden Eagle over 1,500m.

The pair battled for the lead all the way down the home straight before being grabbed near the line by Japanese raider Obamburumai.