JAMIE KAH PUSHES LA MEXICANA TO THE NARROWIST OF WINS IN THE GROUP 3 KEVIN HAYES STAKES

By Graham Potter | Saturday, February 6, 2021

In the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield, La Mexicana gave Jamie Kah her second photo finish success of the afternoon when she skipped through along the inside rail early in the straight before becoming involved in a spirited two horse battle over the Malicorne over the closing strides, in the end prevailing by a nose.

“She was in a bit of a mood today,” said co-trainer Sam Freedman. “She got into the mounting yard and woke up a little bit.

“She is not the easiest filly to deal with and she has had her issues in the past, but she has got a bit of grunt about her and she is in for the fight when they come up alongside her.

“Earlier in her career she was scratched at the gates a couple of times. We lost a bit of time with her working on getting her barrier manners right, but that probably played in her favour.

“She gets a nice three weeks into the Surround now and I think that gap will suit her better. The quick turnaround from Australia Day to today was probably a bit quick for her and I think she showed in the mounting yard before the race.

“Jamie (Kah) knows her so well. She rides her perfectly.”

‘She was a bit slow away today,” offered Jamie Kah. “I’ve been waiting for her to miss the kick and see if she would settle … and she settled beautifully today.

“We just needed a bit of luck and thank God we got it when the gap came on the rail.

“I think she is still very untapped because she does a lot of things wrong, but she is getting better.”