It might not have been in the same league as the riches on offer in Sydney, but apprentice jockey Jamie Kah had her biggest pay day when she took out the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Reef at Flemington on the Mick Price-trained Worth A Ransom.
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The prizemoney of $150,000 more than doubled Worth A Ransom's earnings from his three previous wins and served to underline the value of horses being eligible for VOBIS Gold races.
''It's very exciting and the biggest race I've won so far,'' said 18-year-old Kah. ''We didn't get the best run but he gave me everything and hit the line super.''
Worth A Ransom was forced to race three wide but still had plenty to give when asked for his effort at the 400 metres.
After grabbing the leaders with 300 metres to travel, he comfortably held off Trust In A Gust ($4.60 to $3.50 favourite), who ran on powerfully from last on the turn.
Price's foreman Mick Nolan admitted that he thought Worth A Ransom was struggling on the turn but pointed out that horses just keep running for Kah, who is on a three-month loan to Price.
''He's been three wide but these horses, they all run for this girl,'' Nolan said. ''I don't know what it is but they all run for her.''
Kah, who was the champion jockey in Adelaide last season, said she hoped to remain in Melbourne after her three-month loan was completed, but said that with only two more wins to go before losing her 1½ kilogram claim, gaining rides would become tougher.
■ Classy mare Shamal Wind tuned up for an assault on the group 1 Sportingbet Classic (1200 metres) at Morphettville on April 26 with an impressive win in the Braybrook Handicap (1000).
After settling back in the field along the inside, apprentice Josh Cartwright brought Shamal Wind ($2 favourite) into the race from the 400 metres and went on to score a comfortable win from the pacemaker Fab Fevola.
The mare's trainer, Robert Smerdon, said he had not yet engaged a rider for the Sportingbet Classic, but he would be using Cartwright's services over winter.
■ David Hayes has had a frustrating run of minor placings in recent months but enjoyed some luck in close finishes to snare a treble.
Hayes' first win came via Red Fez ($3.90 favourite), who broke a long run of outs to win the Maidstone Handicap by a nose.
In the following event, the Smithfield Handicap, Churchill Dancer ($17) - whose only win had come at Flemington exactly one year ago- prevailed by a half-head.
In the last race Spacecraft ($61) also returned to his best form to win by 1¼ lengths.
■ Apprentice Patrick Moloney was taken to Epworth Hospital after suffering a broken left ankle when he was dislodged from Sweet Starlett in the opening race.
