The John O’Shea-trained Southern Lad had been winless for seventy-seven weeks before his fast-finishing win in Wednesday’s $200,000 Grafton Services Club Ramornie (1200m) at Grafton.
With Christian Reith in the saddle, Southern Lad and the heavily backed Phobetor singled out over the final 200m. The 6yo son of Ocean Park did best to defeat Phobetor (Dream Ahead) by long-neck with Fender (Toronado) two lengths back in third.
It was the first stakes win for Southern Lad, a model of consistency despite his winning drought. Most recently, he separated Superium and Away Game in the Listed Hinkler Handicap at Eagle Farm.
Carrying the colours of Champion Thoroughbreds, Southern Lad advanced his record to six wins, eight seconds and five thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $599,710.
Purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds for $75,000 out of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Southern Lad becomes the fourth stakes-winner out of the stakes-placed Orientate (USA) mare Distinctive Lass.
Purchased by Nearco Stud for $140,000 at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale, Distinctive Lass is the dam of Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas heroine Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma), Listed winner Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma) and 5-time Listed winner Kuro (Denman), who was second in the Group 1 ATC Galaxy and third in the Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The granddam of Distinctive Lass is the champion mare Special (Habituate) whose ten wins included the Group 1 VRC Lightning Stakes, Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and Group 1 Gadsden Stakes.
Special is the dam of stakes-winners Stavka (Xaar) and Specialize (Bluebird), the granddam of cult hero Bomber Bill (Air de France), winner of the Group 1 WATC Karrakatta Plate and Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Hcp.
Distinctive Lass has a yearling filly by Savabeel and was covered by Darci Brahma last spring after missing to Savabeel in 2019.
Southern Lad becomes the 16th stakes-winner for Ocean Park (Thorn Park), which stands at Waikato Stud this spring a fee of $30,000 (+GST).
