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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisment

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
More Reading...
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
First Southern Hemisphere Stakes Winner for Cable Bay
Woodside Park shuttler Cable Bay (IRE) sired his first southern hemisphere stakes-winner when Uncommon James wore down the favourite Maotai in Saturday’s Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.