3 minute read

MICK Price and Michael Kent Jnr were the stars of the 2022 Adelaide Racing Carnival walking away with a host of features including two Group 1 victories.

Jungle Magnate produced a dominant performance to claim a South Australian Derby victory, while Lombardo maintained his flawless record at Morphettville when he upstaged rivals to win The Goodwood. 

Jungle Magnate also claimed the Group 3 Chairman's Stakes leading into the Derby while the 2022 carnival unearthed a potential star in the form of lightly-raced three-year-old Illation who won the Listed Nitschke Stakes and Listed Adelaide Guineas. 

AUSTRALASIAN OAKS DAY

Australasian Oaks Day was packed with emotion. 

Victorian trainer Natalie Young claimed the Group 1 feature in combination with Trent Busuttin while battling breast cancer with Glint Of Hope.  

Busuttin and Young's Glint Of Hope was perfectly ridden by Daniel Moor who saved ground in the home straight to defy Jamie Kah on favourite My Whisper in the Oaks. 

And it will be remembered as a landmark day for the Jollys, with three generations of the famous family in the winner's stall. 

David Jolly had an early double, co-trainers Richard and daughter Chantelle claimed the Group 3 Breeders' Stakes with See You In Heaven before Peter Jolly's Morvada added another feature in the Listed City of Adelaide. 

Illation announced himself as a serious racehorse coming off the speed to win the Nitschke Stakes. 

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace were to the story on Sangster Day when Snapdancer gave Ethan Brown his first Group 1 win. 

The mare showing her durability on the back of a long campaign spearing to the lead and running rivals ragged in what was a superb training performance. 

Snapdancer won the $1m Magic Millions Fillies and Mares feature over 1300m on the Gold Coast back in January before claiming the Group 3 Triscay Stakes at Randwick in Sydney. 

The stable was able to bounce her back to her best from last-start failure down the Flemington straight to win the Sangster, her first run for 56 days. 

Chris Bieg's Free Of Debt was back to his best with an upset win in the Group 3 D C McKay Stakes while champion Victorian jockey Craig Williams had a big day at the office. 

He won the Group 2 Tobin Bronze aboard Seradess, the Port Adelaide Cup for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with Splendiferous while Mask Up made it two wins from as many starts for Symon Wilde early in the day. 

Mark Zahra produced a perfect staying ride in claiming his 21st Group 1 win aboard Jungle Magnate for Price and Kent Jnr in the South Australian Derby. 

Zahra was forced to ride for luck early in the day to win the Adelaide Guineas aboard Illation but left nothing to chance in the Derby. 

After settling back in the field, Zahra let Jungle Magnate loose approaching the turn as the field jammed approaching the turn before the gelding broke clear of rivals. 

Tony and Calvin McEvoy's Twin Stars proved too good in the SA Sires' Produce Stakes, Skilled Bunch won the Autumn Series Final while Rushaway Lad gave Travis Doudle and connections a rewarding win in the SA Sprint Series Final before Morty won the Super Series Final. 

It was a day to celebrate for former local apprentice Zac Spain when Lombardo made it five wins from five starts in Adelaide with a dominant Goodwood win at Morphettville on Saturday.  

It capped a massive carnival for the Price/Kent Jnr stable as jockey Zac Spain claimed his second Group 1 victory. 

"He (Lombardo) just loves Adelaide," Spain said. 

The Price/Kent stable also produced The Amazonian to win the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic while Maximillius also claimed a Group 3 in the David Coles Stakes. 

Will Clarken's luckless carnival turned around with exiting prospect Extremely Lucky justifying his short price early on Goodwood Day. 

Foxy Frida made amends for a luckless last start to win the Group 3 Queen Of The South Stakes for Andrew Noblet while Seradess claimed her second feature of the carnival for her connections in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes.