Grade 1 Winner for Bushranger

Mark Smith - Sunday May 27

Former Eliza Park resident Bushranger (Ire) had his first winner at the highest level on Saturday when Sophie P (GB) made her first stakes win count in the $300,000 Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita Park.

Purchased last year for 160,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, Sophie P (GB) was making just her second start stateside for trainer Jim Cassidy.

She was sixth in the Grade II Royal Heroine Stakes after arriving from Europe with four wins in Europe from 19 starts and was runner-up in a Listed stakes at Ayr.

In a dramatic three-way finish, Sophie P edged Madame Stripes in the final strides as Madam Dancealot mounted a strong challenge on the rail.


"Once she had clear sailing, she really took off," winning jockey Kent Desormeaux said.

"She had to fight to catch the leader and was very fortunate to beat the horse that she couldn't see. The photo finish describes it completely. My horse was completely stretched out, and the (other) horse is completely coiled up, so it was a very fortunate win."

Sophie P is the lone winner from three to race out of the Giant's Causeway mare Fountains Abbey whose dam Dream Bay (Mr Prospector) is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Nadia.

Bushranger (Danetime) claimed Group 1 victories in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes before shuttling between Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland and Eliza Park in Victoria for five seasons.

The sire of 11 stakes-winners Bushranger did not return to Australia after covering 20 mares in 2014.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.