But then tragedy struck. Aged 34, he died in a race fall at Donald a month later, leaving behind wife, Lucy, and four young children: Harley, Luca, Lily and Frankie.
On Saturday, back in the saddle and in career-best form, Kah defied the cruel aftermath of last year and won both the Sires Produce and the Newmarket Handicap, on the Cummings-trained pair of Traffic Warden and Cylinder.
Jamie Kah, aboard Cylinder, claims the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.Credit: Getty Images
Firstly, she acknowledged the magnitude of winning the Sires Produce, saying it “was massive for me, to get through that and have it behind me”.
Winning the Newmarket was something else.
“I think in the last 100 metres I nearly stopped and started crying,” she said of her 12th group 1 victory. “I can’t really remember it.
“This is for Dean Holland. I couldn’t imagine anyone riding that horse as well as he did last year and I felt so happy that I gave him the opportunity to win the Newmarket.
Kah is presented the Dean Holland Trophy by his children.Credit: Getty Images
“Hopefully, he is watching down on us today. I can’t believe that happened. Obviously, it was a horrible day for me last year, but I’m so happy that Dean got to win on that horse. He was an amazing person.
“Today has been amazing and for Godolphin, they have always supported me. Last year I didn’t get the opportunity to win the Newmarket for them, but Dean Holland did which is great.
Loading
“It is great to get over last year and start again, and I don’t think any day will top today.”
Lucy Holland and her children sat in the front of the broadcast box as the blue silks of Godolphin flashed down the outside with Kah in the saddle. It was the same colours that propelled their father into the spotlight the year before.
They then moved down to the green grass of the mounting yard to wait for Kah.
After post-race interviews, the superstar jockey, recently engaged to jockey Ben Melham, bent down and shook their hands. She then pulled them together and posed with the winning trophy. It was a beautiful bookend to what had been a devastating 12 months.
