Kalkallo lands debut Sandown win

Jockey Daniel Stackhouse thought he was OK to ride the favourite Athanatos at Sandown despite a heavy knock to the face as the horses paraded before the race.

However, when Stackhouse arrived at the start for the Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Plate (1300m) on Wednesday, blood was streaming from his mouth and the jockey was stood down from his remaining rides on the day.

Stackhouse lost two teeth in the incident and when the $2 favourite with betting sites was withdrawn, it threw the market into disarray.

The race was eventually taken out by debutant Kalkallo, a member of the Ciaron Maher stable.

Ridden by Mark Zahra, Kalkallo officially started the $2.70 favourite before scoring a 2-¼ length win from Brullen ($19) with Bon Fete ($31) a further two lengths away third.

Kalkallo earned his name after the ownership group decided on a break on the way home from a Victorian stud tour 12 months ago.

“It’s nearly 12 months to the day when the ownership group was on a stud tour and they stopped in at the Kalkallo pub, and here we are today,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“It’s fantastic to get a win first time out with Rupert Legh’s colours.

“It’s unfortunate circumstances that he got into such a short quote, but we’re thankful to see him do what he did.”

Turnbull said the stable had held a healthy opinion of the Alabama Express gelding who is a half-brother to Dark Halo who was also prepared by the Maher stable.

“He’s always shown good ability, but the 1300 metres was always a query, but he’s got a bit more scope than what his brother did,” Turnbull said.

“He’s in at the right time of the year to win a city maiden and we might be able to look to bigger things with him now.

“He’s a nice gelding who won pretty well today, albeit he got there quite soon in the straight when the leader went, but he’s got nice ability.”