Myboycharlie's Jameka a Class Above in VRC Oaks Victory

Jameka | Darryl Sherer/Racenet.com.au

Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) found the heavy going at Flemington to her liking Thursday and landed her first victory at the highest level in stalking fashion in the Crown Oaks, giving her trainer and part-owner, veteran Ciaron Maher, his second win in the race in two years, having won with Set Square (Aus) (Reset {Aus}) in 2014.
“It's a great job by the team,” commented Maher to Racing.com. “Really good owners, long supporting and it's great to win a Group 1 for them. To [jockey] Damien Oliver, a great ride, rated her well in front and got the job done. He [Oliver] just backed her ability and she's got beautiful stride. He just said before the race that he was going to have her comfortable [in the run] wherever that means she'd settle.”

Showing the way past the grandstand the first time one path off the fence, the bay conceded the lead to Muzyka (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who crept by on the inside after the first half-mile with Jameka relegated to second. With the order having changed little through the first mile, Jameka tugged her way up to sit at Muzyka's throatlatch and was poised to pounce entering the far turn. Let out a notch under Damien Oliver, Jameka regained her lead in a matter of strides, and was going best of all with 400 meters to travel. Godolphin homebred Ambience challenged inside the 300 meters, but couldn't sustain her run and faded into third, leaving Honesta to close up the rail and take place honors, 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Pasadena Girl (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) completed the superfecta.

“I thought no one would want to take it up [the lead] but I wasn't going to hesitate to be the one,” winning jockey Damien Oliver, who was winning his 107th Group 1 told Racing.com. “I had a lot of faith in this filly's ability. She had a faultless preparation. She actually dropped the bit in front and I stayed one-off the rail inside her and did end up taking it up. She was just going too easily a long way from home.”

Added Maher, “There's nothing better than winning a big race during the Flemington Carnival. That's what it's all about. I'm just thrilled to be able to do it for the second year with very high-quality horses.”

Col McKenna, part of the ownership group that owns Jameka won his first Group 1 after a 15 year wait, told Racing and Sports, “We went out last night to celebrate beforehand in case it didn't happen.”

Only off the board once in her juvenile season when fourth in the Listed Talindert S. at Flemington in February of 2014, Jameka donned cap and gown in the G2 VRC Sires' Produce S. sprinting 1400 meters a month later. She resurfaced with a pair of thirds–in her sophomore bow behind Stay With Me (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and Pasadena Girl in the 1200 meter Listed Atlantic Jewel S. at Moonee Valley Sept. 5 and in the 1400 meter G2 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude S. at Caulfield Sept 26. Second to Stay With Me in the G1 Schweppes 1000 Guineas Oct. 10, Jameka returned to the winner's circle defeating Padadena Girl back into fourth in the G2 Vase S. going 2040 meters just 14 days later at Moonee Valley prior to her Crown Oaks score.

Rick Jamieson of Gilgai Farm in Victoria, who also bred Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) bred Jameka. By Irish heightweight Myboycharlie (Ire), best known as the sire of stakes winner and G1 QIPCO Falmouth S. runner-up and G1 Coronation S. third Euro Charline (GB), Jameka is out of a half-sister to G1 Canterbury Guineas hero Jymcarew (Aus) (Danzero {Aus}). She sold for just A$130,000 as a yearling at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on a bid from Maher. Her dam foaled a half-sister by Shamus Award (Aus) in 2015.

Thursday, Flemington, Australia
CROWN OAKS (VRC OAKS)-G1, A$1,005,000 (US$717,394), VRC, 11-05, 3yo f Open Set, 2500mT, 2:43.34, hy.
1–&JAMEKA, 55.5, f, 3, by Myboycharlie (IRE)
1st Dam: Mine Game, by General Nediym
2nd Dam : Aperto (NZ), by Grosvenor (NZ)
3rd Dam: Pathos (USA), by The Minstrel (CAN)
(A$130,000 Ylg 2014 WI Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale)
O-C. L. Maher, Mrs J. M. Mckenna, D. Degenhardt, T. A.
Cole-Sinclair, M. R. Fallon, G. M. Verdoorn, S. Priestley & Mrs
S. A Cockram, Ms J. Nolte, M. Mills, & Halo Racing Services Pty
Ltd (Mgr: C. B.; B-Gilgai Farm VIC; T-C. Maher; J-D. Oliver;
A$605,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-3, A$1,033,475. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating:
A+++. *Triple Plus*.
2–Honesta, 55.5, f, 3, Monaco Consul (NZ) –Always Loyal, by
Bradbury's Luck. (A$20,000 Wlg '13 MM National Weanling
Sale) O-G. J. De Vries, Mrs M. I. De Vries, Miss A. L. De Vries, J.
De Vries, K .C. Duggan, Mrs J. Duggan, Miss E. L. Duggan, S. K.
Duggan, J. C. Duggan, B. D. Lawrence & Miss T. E. Lawrence;
B-Patinack Farm NSW; T-John Thompson; J-Craig Williams;
A$180,000.
3–Ambience, 55.5, f, 3, Street Cry (IRE) –Miss Right Note (IRE),
by Daylami (IRE). O-Godolphin; B-Darley NSW; T-J. A. O'Shea;
J-J. B. McDonald; A$90,000.
Margins: 2.3 len, 3.6 len, 9.6 len . Odds: 4.60, 8.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Pasadena Girl (NZ) , Dulverton, The Grey Flash, Sacred Eye, Princess Aria, Zarabeel (NZ) , Ritzy, Muzyka. Scratched: Dawnie Perfect (Aus).
Click for the Racing Post result, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

 

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.