All the fuss heading into The Group 3 Chairman's Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville was local boy Harleymoven but it was the combination of jockey Damien Oliver and trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr with Jungle Magnate spoiling the party for the locally trained horse.
Jungle Magnate ($7) was ridden perfectly by Oliver as he fended off a fast finishing Harleymoven ($2.45) and Saint Tropez ($31) for third.
Co-trainer Mick Price was always of the impression that Jungle Magnate was a staying type.
“We paid $75,000 for him off Gerry Harvey and you shouldn't be doing much with them as two-year-olds,” he said.
“He's just a horse that we've looked after with these races in mind.”
“He did run him in the VRC (Victoria) Derby but he was a bit over the top that day.”
“We've had a nice program for him this prep and I think he'll be back for the SA Derby and I think he'll get the distance and let's hope he can win.”
Oliver said post race that Jungle Magnate ticks all the right boxes for a tilt at the South Australian Derby.
“He hit the line full of running so it was a good effort,” he said.
“He (Harleymoven) challenged us strongly but he fought it off well.”
Price won the 2015 Victoria Derby with Tarzino and Jungle Magnate will be looking to emulate his father by winning the South Australian Derby.
Price also added that he was impressed by the way the Tarzinos were coming along. “We are buying them,” he said.
“We know the breed. They are tough horses. They are good boned horses. They have scope, good size and strength about them.”