Mark Zahra will chase consecutive Group 1 victories in Adelaide in Saturday’s Group 1 Goodwood after celebrating his 21st major aboard Jungle Magnate in last weekend’s South Australian Derby.
Zahra will ride Cliff Brown’s The Inferno, an eye-catching runner from the Group 3 D C McKay Stakes, after his feature double last weekend with two very different rides.
Zahra had to weave some magic and received a three-meeting suspension in the process, for his winning ride aboard the exciting Illation in the Adelaide Guineas before he produced a gem aboard Jungle Magnate in the Group 1 Derby.
The class of Illation helped the horse overcome a sticky situation in the Guineas when the pair got back and on the fence, held up badly rounding the turn before powering to victory when they found clear air.
In contrast Zahra took luck out of the equation in the Derby.
After settling back in the field, he opted to loop wide as the field jammed approaching the turn before Jungle Magnate powered away from rivals for an impressive win.
"He's one of the best Group 1 riders in Australia, there's about four of them and he's one of them," co-trainer Mick Price said.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Twin Stars proved too good in the SA Sires’ Produce Stakes while Skilled Bunch continued his impressive second-up record to win the Autumn Series Final.
Rushaway Lad gave Travis Doudle the SA Sprint Series Final with apprentice Angus Chung in the saddle before Morty won the Super Series Final for Shayne Cahill.
MEANWHILE Kayla Crowther recorded her 100th win for the season with a double at Strathalbyn on Sunday.
Crowther was successful aboard Insaaf before combining with the David Jolly-trained Valaroc later in the day.
Crowther sits 27 wins clear of Barend Vorster on the SA Jockey Premiership and the double sets up another big week for the leading rider who will get the biggest opportunity at Group 1 glory in her short career when she partners Behemoth in the Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday.
