Racing SA's Lincoln Moore, and Racing.com duo James Jordan and James Tzaferis take you through their highlights of the 2020/21 SA racing season.
LINCOLN MOORE
Jamie Kah
There was no bigger story in racing than Jamie Kah’s rise to the top of Australia’s riding ranks. After witnessing her potential greatness in SA it was amazing to see Kah’s rise interstate. It was amazing to see her become the first jockey to ride 100 winners in a season in Melbourne and have her talents recognised across the country by the biggest trainers in the business.
Craig Williams' tribute to Nigel Latham
The story that stepped well outside the wall of racing, a dying man's wish to be trackside was honoured beautifully by Craig Williams.
Behemoth
Dual Group 1 wins in Melbourne before earning a place alongside two of South Australian horses in the $15m Everest, Behemoth had always promised to deliver on the big stages and did so brilliantly.
Jacob Opperman’s rise
2020-21 was a big one for Opperman which saw break out moment(s) through the Adelaide Racing Carnival. The Mount Gambier native won the Port Adelaide Guineas and Chairman’ Stakes aboard Royal Mile for Lee Creek before bagging five winners at Morphettville in June.
Beau Rossa
It was the final day fo the season but Beau Rossa stamped himself as a horse to follow in the spring with a dominant Lightning Stakes win first-up from a spell to secure Todd Pannell the premiership. A Group 2 winner during the carnival, Will Clarken has nurtured the horse from a yearling and has his eyes on Group 1 prizes.
JAMES JORDAN
Nigel Latham/Craig Williams
A story that went beyond racing but highlighted what it means to people and the positive contribution it makes to so many lives.
Media Award/Oaks/Chris Calthorpe
Raw emotion at its finest, the post-race interview with Chris was as good as it gets.
DT Memorial. Jason Holder/Pearl Bandit/Leon interview.
Rare that you see a Hall Of Fame trainer moved that much by winning an otherwise moderate race. Was great to honour David Thomas and a personal highlight of the season.
Royal Mile. Opperman/Creek. Chairman’s Stakes.
They say there’s not much loyalty in racing, but the way connections stuck with Jacob through the prep was fantastic and he didn’t let them down on the big stage.
Mileva/Anna Jordsjø/Clarken Macgillivray.
Anna’s first stakes success for the team that have supported her so much post her apprenticeship.
JAMES TZAFERIS
Craig Williams’ tribute to Nigel Latham
A dying man’s final wish helped by a star jockey and, more importantly, a star human, happy to play his part. It was simple gesture from star jockey Craig Williams but one that transcended racing. The fact Willo won the G1 Sangster Stakes on the same day was the perfect karma.
Behemoth’s spring beat down
David Jolly’s pin-up horse stamped himself as one of the best horses in the country with a string of spring wins, including a dominant performance at weight-for-age in the G1 Memsie Stakes.
The remarKAHble Jamie Kah
You can take the girl out of SA, but you can’t take SA out of the girl. What Jamie has done in Melbourne this season has been nothing short of incredible. A history maker and a real flagbearer for racing in SA.
Calthorpe’s G1 breakthrough
The scenes after popular Victorian trainer Chris Calthorpe won his first Group 1 with Media Award in the Australasian Oaks were amazing. His unbridled emotion in the post-race interview was real and refreshing.
Premiership battles
Not really a moment but an unfolding narrative across the entire season. Not often to both the metropolitan jockey and trainer premierships go right down the final meetings, as they have in Adelaide this season. Competition has brought out the best in SA’s top trainers and jockeys and really added another dimension for punters over the last couple of months.
