Sofia Rosa wins Gr 1 ATC Australian Oaks
A fall has marred the ATC Australian Oaks, won in tenacious style by New Zealand filly Sofia Rosa.
As Sofia Rosa was making her bid on the home turn, Kathy O’Hara was thrown from her mount Single Gaze as they raced towards the back of the field.
O’Hara was reported to be conscious when treated by paramedics before she was placed in an ambulance as Hugh Bowman bought the winner back to scale at Randwick on Saturday.
Sofia Rosa was trapped wide for the entire 2400m but she lifted under Bowman to beat Ambience and Believe with the favourite Jamkea finishing fourth.
Bowman said Sofia Rosa had a mind of her own but her courage couldn’t be questioned.
“I’ve ridden some difficult horses in my time but this one takes the cake,” Bowman said.
“She is so temperamental … but she’s got some fight.”
Sofia Rosa completed a clean-sweep of the three-year-old Classics for New Zealand during The Championships after Tavago took out the ATC Australian Derby.