Third Group 1 for O’Hara
Rediener’s (Redoute’s Choice) Epsom Handicap victory yesterday handed jockey Kathy O’Hara her third win at Group 1 level, while she also became the first female to triumph in the historic race.
It was a special win for the stable as O’Hara is married to Charlie Duckworth, Chris Waller’s racing manager and right-hand man.
“How bloody good, I can’t believe it,” said O’Hara, whose most recent Group 1 came on board Single Gaze (Not A Single Doubt) in the 2016 Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), while her first taste of the elite-level came in the 2012 Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) on Ofcourseican (Mossman).
“I’m just delighted and I’m really thankful to Chris and Charlie and the whole team to be given these opportunities.
“Charlie this week was manifesting this so much… I was like, ‘can you stop being so weird and just let this happen, you’re making me nervous’!”
Waller was winning the race himself for a fifth time, but instead of reflecting on his own success, preferred to praise O’Hara for her hard work.
“She does the hard yards; she goes to Kembla and Nowra, does trials and jumps–outs and then she goes and rides her show horses and what she does on them is amazing,” he said.
“Very special for Kathy and Charlie, that’s a fitting result.”
Meanwhile, Waller was pleased with Kovalica’s (Ocean Park) second-placed performance and said the plan had been to head to the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in two weeks’ time, but he is now likely to head straight to the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28.