Ocean Park's Southern Lad Comes Up Trumps in the Ramornie

Mark Smith - Wednesday July 7

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.

Southern Lad a $75,000 Inglis Easter Yearling

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.

Advertisement

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).

Ocean Park

Advertisment

Race Result - Ramornie LR 1200m

Grafton Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:08.52
1
Southern Lad
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Distinctive Lass (AUS) (Orientate (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: C Reith 55
2
0.4
Phobetor
- 5g Dream Ahead (USA) x Oneforall (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: Michael Costa Rdr: Jag Guthmann-Chester 55
3
2.4
Fender
- 4g Toronado (IRE) x Ceccanti (AUS) (Arena (AUS))
Tnr: B F Cavanough Rdr: B Looker 54
4
3.8
Phantom Falcon
- 7g Swiss Ace (AUS) x River Nymph (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: Kacy Fogden Rdr: M Bennett 54
5
4.1
Blazing Miss
- 4m Sizzling (AUS) x Jahre (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: M Cahill 54
6
4.9
Hellenism
- 5m Helmet (AUS) x Edaara (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: Aiden St Vincent Rdr: Ms R Murray 54
7
5.4
Garibaldi
- 4g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sonnenblume (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ben Thompson 54
8
5.7
Boomtown Lass
- 5m Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Boomalicious (AUS) (Red Dazzler (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Anderson Rdr: Jake Bayliss 54
9
5.9
Snitz
- 6g Snitzel (AUS) x Tickle My (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: M Mc Guren 56.5
10
6.0
Usmanov
- 5g Choisir (AUS) x Mining Tycoon (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: A Mallyon 59
11
6.3
Poetic Charmer
- 6g Your Song (AUS) x Hoss Amor (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
12
7.1
Outback Barbie
- 5m Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Pure Purrfection (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ms S Thornton 58
13
7.2
Beaufort Park
- 5g Warhead (AUS) x Warlady (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: L D Kelly Rdr: A B Collett 54
14
7.7
Exclusive
- 5g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Talkin' About (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: Kirk Matheson 54
15
8.8
Oakfield Twilight
- 6g Zoffany (IRE) x Bally Aura (AUS) (Bellotto (USA))
Tnr: D Lane Rdr: D Mc Lellan 55
More Reading...
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.