It was a happy reunion between Jamie Kah and So Si Bon at Sandown on Saturday when the leading jockey and ageless gelding combined to score an upset win in the $150,000 Maria Papoutsis Handicap.
The nine-year-old broke a 629-day winning drought when he rallied after being headed by $1.40 favourite Detonator Jack in the 1700-metre event.
It was only the second time Kah had ridden So Si Bon, the first being 46 runs prior in the 2019 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, and Melbourne’s leading rider was thrilled to guide him to his ninth win at start number 86.
“He’s just a ripper old horse, he’s run some massive races in his lifetime and it’s just nice to find some form on him again,” Kah said.
“It’s pretty special to win on a horse like this.”
The victory was So Si Bon’s first under incumbent Lindsay Park trainers Ben and JD Hayes, having previously experienced the touch of Tom Dabernig and the Hayes boys’ father David after starting his career in the care of Robbie Laing.
His previous win came in the VOBIS Gold Mile at Caulfield in April 2021, 21 starts prior, and the $82,500 winner’s cheque lifted his earnings to $2,138,685.
So Si Bon came back after being headed when Detonator Jack ambled alongside at the 200m and Kah said lessons learned from watching replays of the son of So You Think played a part in the win.
“I went to pull the stick and I thought twice about it, I thought he was giving me his all, and I’ve seen him go around a million times before and I just think he doesn’t love the whip,” Kah said.
“I just gave him a little click and he felt like he always had that other horse well held.”
So Si Bon ($11 betfair SP) pulled away again late to score by three-quarters-of-a-length from Detonator Jack with Helene Leadingstar ($12) two lengths back third in a time of 1:43.61.
John Allen rode Detonator Jack, who was shooting for third win from four starts for the campaign, and settled last but surprised the Irishman with how quickly he reeled in the leaders.
“We got up on the outside of him (So Si Bon) and he made up his ground quite quickly and effortlessly,” Allen said.
“If I had my time back, I might have waited a bit longer and had a crack at him late, but he still ran well.”