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Southern Lad returns to winning ways in Ramornie Handicap
The John O’Shea-trained Southern Lad (6 g ex Distinctive Lass by Orientate) won Wednesday’s Ramornie Handicap (Listed, 1200m) at Grafton to become the 16th stakes winner for Ocean Park (Thorn Park).
Winless since January 2020, Southern Lad was settled in midfield by jockey Christian Reith and he was then let down in the straight and beat the favourite, Phobetor (Dream Ahead), by a half length, with another two lengths back to Fender (Toronado) in third.
“Southern Lad deserved that win. He’d had a few stakes placings and has run just behind horses like Masked Crusader and Classique Legend,” said O’Shea.
Bought by Champion Thoroughbreds for $75,000 at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds and he becomes the fourth stakes winner for his dam, Listed placed mare Distinctive Lass (Orientate), who is also the dam of New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma) and Listed winners Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma) and Kuro (Denman). His third dam meanwhile is three-time Group One winner Special (Habituate).
Ocean Park’s stakes winners include three Group One winners in Kolding, Tofane and Ocean Billy and he will stand for a fee of NZ$30,000 (plus GST) at Waikato Stud this spring.