Co-trainer Mick Price enjoyed a big day out at Morphettville highlighted by his son of Tarzino, Jungle Magnate, continuing his great Adelaide form with success in the 2022 South Australian Derby.

Jungle Magnate, a son of 2015 VRC Derby winner Tarzino (pictured), won the 2022 SA Derby in Adelaide for Mick Price & Michael Kent Junior.

Following on from the stable’s victory in the Listed Adelaide Guineas with Illation, Price & co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr were thrilled to pick up a Group 1 trophy with Jungle Magnate in the 148^th edition of the $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m).

It was a special result for Price who had trained the horse’s sire, Tarzino, for a win in the Victoria Derby back in 2015.

“An underrated stallion,” Price told Racing.com speaking of his former star.

“This time next year I reckon we’ll have another big strong Tarzino back here for it.”

Jungle Magnate was unable to emulate his father in that time-honoured classic at Flemington, only managing to run 10^th in last year’s Victoria Derby results, but atoned in Adelaide in the SA Derby.

“We had a nice circle around this race as his peak point,” Price said.

Last start the horse took out the Group 2 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) and he franked that form stepping back up in grade and distance to become the first three-year-old since Leicester (2018) to do the double.

Jockey Mark Zahra had just his second ride aboard Jungle Magnate and made it a perfect two-from-two record having previously ridden the youngster to victory on debut in June last year at Sandown.

“I think it was a nice ride by Zahra,” Price said.

“There were a lot of horses inside him at the top of the straight.

“He’s just a Group 1 rider, isn’t he? He’s one of the best Group 1 riders in Australia.”

Son Of Emperor showed brilliant speed at the jump to go forward and lead the field around, while Zahra was happy to settle back in the second half of the field on Jungle Magnate.

There was a strong pace on in the day’s feature race and a strung out field where one of the early favourites, Detonator Jack, was back dead last 16 lengths off the lead inside the 1200m.

With 600m left to travel the field began to bunch and it was then all eyes quickly went to Jungle Magnate ($7.50) who went right around them before letting down with a lightning turn of foot.

He raced to the lead at the 300m and was well clear going on to defeat the Cliff Brown-trained Yaphet ($10) by nearly two lengths.

The previously undefeated Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Detonator Jack ($3.50) was eye-catching late, making up all the ground from the back to finish third and complete the SA Derby trifecta.

Beaten favourite Alegron ($3.10F) for James Cummings and the Godolphin stable meanwhile only managed to run fourth, four and a half lengths beaten.

Price ruled out any plans to head up to Brisbane for a shot at the Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m) in a fortnight, instead confirming Jungle Magnate would now head out to the paddock for a well-deserved spell.

“I never want to go too far with my horses,” he said.

“I would want to put him out. He’s done a good job and I’d like to see him in the paddock.”

2022 South Australian Derby Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.