First Group I winner for Cable Bay

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 25

Invincible Spirit stallion Cable Bay (IRE) shuttled to Victoria for four seasons from 2017 to 2020 leaving just two stakes-winners here and one of them, Uncommon James, became his first Group I winner on Saturday when taking out a thrilling rendition of the Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100m).

Uncommon James defeats Lofty Strike to win the G1 Oakleigh Plate - image Grant Courtney

Trained at Eagle Farm by Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted, Uncommon James has a great record and tuned up for his first Group I tilt with a last start second in the Group II MRC Rubiton Stakes to Lofty Strike.

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Under a great ride from Ben Thompson, Uncommon James was able to turn the tables on the three year-old, powering clear to win by three-quarters of a length with quality mare Asfoora in third place.

With six wins and two seconds from eight starts, Uncommon James has never missed a place and has earned over $830,000 in prizemoney with this victory giving his young rider his first Group I win.

“It means so much, it means everything ... I am mess,” Thompson said.

“Obviously, it’s one thing every jockey dreams of, and not many get to put Group 1-winning rider next to your name.

“It’s so lucky for it to have happened.

“Just the way it panned out. Uncommon James, I have had a lot to do with, I rode him in his first ever jump-out and I’ve ridden him in Queensland three times for three wins.”

Co-Trainer Matthew Hosted Hoysted indicated the Group I Newmarket or The Galaxy would be considered next for Uncommon James.

“I just knew he had so much improvement in him coming in here first-up,” Hoysted said.

“The last week he has just improved out of sight.”

“The sky is the limit; he is still learning what he is doing this horse, so hopefully we can have a fair bit of fun in the next 12 months.”

Uncommon James an easy  horse to love! - image Grant Courtney

A homebred for Lavin Park Racing and Breeding, Uncommon James is the first foal to race out of the stakes-placed  Jet Spur mare Pickabee, a sister to the Listed stakes-winner Emmalene.

Pickabee died earlier this month, but has a 2yo filly by Capitalist and a yearling colt by Yes Yes Yes with a Dundeel filly born last spring.

Uncommon James is the best of eight stakes-winners worldwide for Cable Bay.

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Race Result - Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate Gr1 1100m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Good(3) Time: 1:01.57
1
Uncommon James
- 4g Cable Bay (IRE) x Pickabee (AUS) (Jet Spur (AUS))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Ben Thompson 53.5
2
0.8
Lofty Strike
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Overreach (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: C Newitt 53
3
1.0
Asfoora
- 4m Flying Artie (AUS) x Golden Child (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Jye McNeil 53
Flying Artie
4
1.1
King Of Sparta
- 4g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Octavia (AUS) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: John Allen 55.5
5
1.4
Zoustyle
- 7g Zoustar (AUS) x Fashion (GER) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ethan Brown 55
6
1.9
Star Patrol
- 4g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x It's One (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: M J Dee 52
7
2.1
I Am Me
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Mefnooda (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 52
8
2.6
Chain Of Lightning
- 4m Fighting Sun (AUS) x Magic Art (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Craig Williams 52.5
9
2.8
Marine One
- 4h Capitalist (AUS) x Golconda (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 54
10
4.1
Roch 'N' Horse
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Rochfort (NZ) (Cecconi (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J Mott 58
11
4.4
Shooting For Gold
- 5g Shooting To Win (AUS) x Amber's Crown (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Jaden Lloyd 52.5
12
4.5
Zapateo
- 4m Brazen Beau (AUS) x Jerezana (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Moor 52
13
4.7
The Astrologist
- 6g Zoustar (AUS) x Aquada (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
14
5.1
Masked Crusader
- 6g Toronado (IRE) x She's Got Gears (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: B Melham 57
15
7.1
Mileva
- 5m Headwater (AUS) x Lady Einstein (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Dean Holland 52
16
7.5
Shamino
- 7g Shamus Award (AUS) x Elumino (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Kayla Crowther 52
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