By Daithí Harvey
After losing the G1 New Zealand Oaks on protest last time out, Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) gained compensation here to win the G1 Australian Oaks for trainer Stephen Marsh and jockey Hugh Bowman, proving she is one of the classiest albeit slightly wayward fillies of her generation. The punter's second choice behind favourite Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Sofia Rosa was waited with by Bowman early on as Self Esteem (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) established a clear early advantage. The filly, who was racing slightly erratically, raced by Believe (Aus) to hit the lead inside the final furlong where she pulled away to record a half-length success over Ambience (Aus) in a time of 2.34.27 with Believe (Aus) running on gamely to take third, a half neck back. Hugh Bowman was steering his fourth winner of the day and commented, “Not everything went to plan for this filly. I've ridden some difficult horses in my time but this one takes the cake. She is so temperamental. She went out onto the track early and she hasn't given me a minutes peace since I got on her. Even when I went for her she baulked in, then I straightened her. She has got some fight.”
Saturday, Randwick, Australia
AUSTRALIAN OAKS-G1, A$1,114,500, ATC, 4-9, 3yo, f, Open Set Weight, 2400mT, 2:34.27, Soft.
1–&SOFIA ROSA (NZ), 56.0, f, 3, by Makfi (GB)
1st Dam: Bislieri, by Encosta de Lago
2nd Dam: Bislotto, by Bellotto (USA)
3rd Dam: Biscay Dancer, by Biscay (AUS)
(NZ$65,000 Ylg 2014 NZB National Yearling Sale) O-Jml
Bloodstock Ltd (Mgr: L Petagna); B-G Harvey, Waikato, NZ; T-S
B Marsh; J-J Bowman; A$714,500. Lifetime Record: GSW &
G1SP-NZ, 10-5-1-1, A$893,166. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ambience, 56.0, f, 3, Street Cry (IRE)–Miss Right Note (IRE) ,
by Daylami (IRE). O-Godolphin; B-Darley NSW; T-J A O'Shea; J-J
B McDonald; A$200,000.
3–Believe, 56.0, f, 3, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Optimist, by Red
Ransom (USA). (A$50,000 Ylg 2014 WI Sydney Easter Yearling
Sale) O-D Grimley, Belannah Stud (G S Charny), Ms K Grimley,
S T Grimley, A G Bray & G T Bray, Ms H V Charny & Ms I S J
Charny & A Cummings Thoroughbreds (A&B Cummings);
B-Makybe Racing & Breeding VIC; T-A J Cummings; J-K Mc
Evoy; A$100,000.
Margins: 0.5 len, 0.7 len, 1.2 len. Odds: 3.80, 40.00, 60.00
Also Ran: Jameka, Chabaud (NZ), Valley Girl (NZ), Capella (NZ), Sacred Eye, Self Esteem, Honesta, Alaskan Rose (NZ), Diamond Made, Happy Hannah. DNF: Single Gaze.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
Jameka, winner of the G1 Crown Oaks at Flemington last November and recently a highly creditable second to Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the G1 BMW Australian Derby went off favourite but could never really land a blow, eventually staying on late for fourth. Her rider Damien Oliver could offer no real excuses and said, “She just didn't show speed out of the gates today, I had a nice run followed the winner and was a couple lengths off when we straightened. The winner just quickened a bit better than her today.” For Sofia Rosa it was a just reward for having won the G1 New Zealand Oaks Mar 19 at Trentham she subsequently lost the race in the stewards room for causing interference to the runner up Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}). Were it not for that demotion Sofia Rosa would be unbeaten in four starts this year, as she had previously shown her class when winning the G2 Royal S. at Ellerslie and the G3 Lowland S. at Hastings. Her trainer Stephen Marsh was both proud and relieved with the outcome and said, “This is just an awesome race to win and so proud of her. She got into a nice spot, she was three wide but Hugh had her so relaxed. She still wanted to do everything wrong in the straight, I thought 'oh here we go again' [after losing the New Zealand Oaks on protest] but she was good to the line and it's just a huge buzz to win a race like this.”
It was the culmination of a long term plan that has not always gone smoothly for Sofia Rosa, including when she clipped heels and fell in the G2 Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie last year and Marsh added, “We've always had this in mind from a long way out. I think all of the planning and all the hard work has paid off. She's difficult but she gets a lot of time put into her and that's where we get the results.” It was also another good result for young stallion Makfi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who sired his first northern hemisphere Classic winner last year when Make Believe (GB) won the G1 French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp.
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