Any sleep star jockey Jamie Kah gets over the next 36 hours will be at 12,000m altitude.
Kah has 16 rides at Sandown and Sha Tin on the weekend, including three Australian Group 1s and the Hong Kong Classic Cup, a domestic top-class race in the Asian racing mecca.
Kah has eight mounts at Sandown, including Barber (Blue Diamond Stakes), I’m Thunderstruck (Futurity Stakes) and I Am Me (Oakleigh Plate), along a host of chances on the undercard.
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Despite the high-stakes Saturday in Melbourne, the 25-year-old could not miss the chance to ride Voyage Bubble again after they combined to win the Hong Kong Classic Mile last month.
She has seven other rides on the island before a second overnight nine-hour flight inside 24 hours.
“It’s a very quick trip,” Kah said.
“You don’t sleep in an actual bed for three days because you’re in the plane the whole time really.
“It’s easy to get through the (race) day, adrenaline is pumping and then you get home and crash for a whole day.”
Jamie Kah celebrates after winning the Classic Mile at Sha Tin on Voyage Bubble. Picture: HKJC
Tearaway Melbourne premiership leader Kah has received rock star receptions in Hong Kong after only two successful visits to Happy Valley and Sha Tin most recently.
“I was surprised I had all these people with photos of me from the first meeting and they got me to sign them, it was strange, it was a really weird feeling, to go somewhere for only the second time in your life and everyone knows you,” Kah said.
“It’s really about the crowd, and the punters as well, but I think mainly the owners love going to the races and watching their horses, after you ride a winner there you’re getting photos for 20 minutes.
“It’s all really popular with the owners, it’s a good feeling, they make you feel really good, like you’re meant to be there, I was a bit nervous going there my first time but everyone makes you feel really at home there.”
James McDonald and Blake Shinn will also be riding in Hong Kong on Sunday after commitments in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.
Kah claimed her ninth Group 1 triumph last week after winning the Lightning Stakes with Coolangatta. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images
Fresh off the Lightning Stakes triumph last week, Kah, Australia’s most successful female top-class jockey with nine Group 1 winners, wants to build on the record on Saturday.
Kah declared unbeaten and professional Godolphin colt Barber the “perfect type of horse” to ride in the Blue Diamond.
“He’s a horse that’s so happy to switch off and cruise around,” Kah said.
“It’s very important for these two-year-old races and he goes around Sandown like he’s been here 100 times before, he’s really relaxed, a super horse to ride.
“He just cruises along, I probably pushed the button a little bit too soon on him because he has an amazing turn of foot, he’s a horse you got to trust you got a lot underneath and be patient on him.”
Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m)
$4.20 Steel City
$5.50 Barber
$7.50 Brave Halo
$10 The Instructor, Don Corleone
Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m)
$2.90 I’m Thunderstruck
$3.60 Alligator Blood
$4.60 Mr Brightside
$5 Nugget
Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m)
$5.50 Asfoora
$6 I Am Me
$7.50 Chain Of Lightning
$8.50 King Of Sparta
Source: TAB
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