The only filly in the race, Qafila, ran out a poweful 2500m to beat the boys in the 2019 Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville today.
Qafila, above, races away to score a comfortable win in the 2019 South Australian Derby at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Qafila was backing up week to week after running fourth in last Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Oaks over 2000m at Morphettville and she really relished stepping up in distance today.
Winning jockey Corey Parish claimed his second Group 1 victory in dominant style and after letting Qafila ($14) stride to the front at the top of the straight, the filly raced away to record a three and a half lengths win.
Runner up Savvy Oak ($26) tried hard in the run home while the $2.50 favourite Mr Quickie gave away too much start and was finishing hard to gain third sport after settling near the tail of the field.
Parish secured his first Group 1 win on Boom Time in the 2017 $3m Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield and saluted again today for the Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
“Well done to Corey, that is his second Group 1 and he rode her just like Boom Time when he won the Caulfield Cup,” Ben Hayes said.
“He got the front under a hold and I was a bit worried that something was going to swoop, but she had them put away at the 200m and she could not have won any more dominantly.”
“She deserves this Group 1.”
“She has been competing at the highest level her whole career. This win makes her very valuable now.”
“She has pulled up out this race fantastic, she has hardly had a blow.”
Qafila had fair form at Flemington during the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival with a second in the Group 2 $300,000 Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) followed by a fifth in the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Oaks (2500m).
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