Larkspur Run Makes it a Family Double on Melbourne Cup Day

Mark Smith - Tuesday November 1

A first trip to the winner’s circle for Jamie Kah and a second for James Cummings on Melbourne Cup day as the honest Larkspur Run got off the reserves bench to capture the Group III The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

Jamie Kah drives Larkspur run to victory (image Grant Courtney)

Coming off a close-up third behind Turaath (GB) in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes at Geelong, the 4yo daughter of Shamardal (USA) defeated the Written Tycoon mare Literary Magnate by three-quarter of a length with the Sebring mare Mac 'N' Cheese a shoer-half-head back in third.

It was a deserving breakthrough for Larkspur Run who had four previous black-type placings.

“I think she (Kah) put her in the right spot and enabled the horse to show her toughness,” Cummings said.

“That’s great for the farm. That leads to Larkspur Run being a new stakes winner for Darley.

“I liked the ride, and Dominic Beirne and I talked about the horse sitting out wide and enabling her to get out to the right lane at the right time.

“She’s a tough mare. Very fit. I’d given her enough runs, including a run two ago on a very heavy track that I didn’t sway from at Randwick, and her toughness prevailed in a really strong finish over 1400 metres.

“It is only the fourth time I’ve brought her to this distance, but she looked like 1400 metres would suit her on her last run in the Black Pearl at Geelong, and the ground was firm then.

“This ground suited her a lot better, and it showed her to nice effect.”

Kah said Larkspur Run enjoyed the cut out of the ground.

“It was a great run. I just didn’t think she’d handle the firm surface. When the track came up like it did today, I thought it would be perfect for her,” Kah said.

“I wasn’t where I wanted to be in the run. I wanted to be back a little bit just to get some cover on her, but she was really tough.

“I thought she might float a bit when she hit the front, but she was never in doubt today.

Larkspur Run completes a great day for the family (image Grant Courtney)

“She’s improved a lot mentally. I think she just wants a bit of give in the ground. She’s got quite a rough little action on her, so I think today was fantastic so keep her on the soft ground.”

A Godolphin homebred, Larkspur Run advanced her record to three wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $347,815.

A half-sister to Group II Magic Night Stakes runner-up Magic Carpet (Lonhro), Larkspur Run is out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Aspen a half-sister to Group II Surround Stakes winner Ghisoni (Lonhro), whose son Renosu was an impressive winner earlier on the program.

Aspen has a 2yo Lonhro filly named Dipsy Doodle, who finished fourth on debut behind stablemate Barber at Randwick on October 22.

Aspen has not had much luck recently. She lost a Blue Point (IRE) colt after birth and was not covered last spring.

Larkspur Run is the 164th stakes-winner for Shamardal (USA) a 5-time shuttler to Darley.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Hong Kong Jockey Club Gr3 1400m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:26.07
1
Larkspur Run
- 4m Shamardal (USA) x Aspen (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 55
2
0.8
Literary Magnate
- 4m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Family Crest (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M J Williams Rdr: D Yendall 57
3
0.9
Mac 'n' Cheese
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: J Bowman 56
Sebring
4
1.0
Adele Amour
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Divine Rebel (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: Alana Kelly 55
5
1.1
Another Award
- 5m Shamus Award (AUS) x El Milagro (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: L Macdonald & A Gluyas Rdr: Craig Williams 55
6
1.2
Heresy
- 4m Street Boss (USA) x Montsegur (AUS) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: W Buick 57
7
1.3
Paul's Regret
- 6m Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Denison Star (AUS) (Hemingway (IRE))
Tnr: P A Chow Rdr: Jarrod Fry 56
8
1.4
Tycoon Evie
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Winaura (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
9
1.5
See Marie
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Annamarie (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 55.5
10
2.0
Promise Of Success
- 7m Dansili (GB) x Summer School (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58
11
2.8
She's All Class
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Shirra Nui (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Shinn 55
12
3.2
Katalin
- 6m Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Kanzan (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
13
4.4
Finepoint
- 4m Pins (AUS) x Zarzuela (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 55
14
6.7
Asymmetrical
- 4m So You Think (NZ) x Akoonah (AUS) (Ready's Image (USA))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Moor 55
15
7.4
Decent Raine
- 4m Dissident (AUS) x Royal Raine (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 55
More Reading...
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.