$160,000 Purchase a G1 Winner for Hedge and Iskander

Media Release - Sunday June 9

Suman Hedge and Sheriff Iskander celebrated their first G1 success in their own right today when tenacious filly Socks Nation outstayed Our Gold Hope in an Inglis graduates quinella in the G1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.

Bloodstock agent Hedge and owner Iskander were both involved in the ownership of multiple G1 winner Zoustar but today’s success was their first at the top level since running their own individual racing businesses.

Socks Nation wins the G1 Queensland Oaks - -image Inglis

“It’s very special for me because Sheriff is the owner and he’s supported me and backed me in from the very start and gave me my first opportunity and I wouldn’t be in the industry if it wasn’t for him,’’ a delighted Hedge said after the Oaks.

“It’s his first G1 in his own right and my first since I’ve been out on my own. Since starting Suman Hedge Bloodstock we’ve had four seconds in G1 races and I thought today was going to be number five but we got the result and it’s amazing.’’

Socks Nation  is a fascinating filly – the Ciaron Maher-trained 3YO has raced 12 times and never had a spell, enjoying G1 success in what is her first preparation.

Socks Nation was a $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase.

Hedge recalled buying the filly for $160,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale from the Milburn Creek draft at Oaklands due to one major reason.

“Scott Holcombe at Milburn Creek strongly recommended her to me, he said ‘don’t second guess yourself on this filly, just buy the horse’,’’ Hedge said.

“With that in mind, plus my own thoughts and knowing she was coming from such a good farm, we had the confidence to have a crack.

Advertisement

“She had tremendous athleticism, her action was such that she was very efficient with her movement. We weren’t overly familiar with the sire at that time but she was out of a nicely bred mare and was a great type so we were happy to buy her and boy am I glad we did now!

“I really love Inglis Premier, it’s such a pure sale, there is always every type of horse there, from a top level sprinter to a G1 middle distance horse or a great filly like Socks Nation who wins you a G1 at 2200m as a 3YO.’’

Bred by Ian Millard, Socks Nation becomes the 99th individual G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018.

Earlier on the Eagle Farm program there was another Stakes quinella of Inglis graduates when Ostraka (Pariah) defeated Inhibitions in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes.

The lightly raced Ostraka has proven a model of consistency, finishing in the trifecta at five of his past six starts.

The 3YO is a $150,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for his trainer Annabel Neasham as well as Mitchell Bloodstock, Brian McGuire and Stallion Match from the draft of his breeder, Arrowfield.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One To Watch - Sandown Lakeside
A beaten favourite in a Pakenham maiden on November 10, the Sioux Nation (USA) filly Socks Nation did not let her supporters down a second time when putting eight opponents to the sword in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Owners Incentive Scheme Plate (1500m) at Sandown-Lakeside.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Sioux Nation Filly Socks Nation Shocks in Queensland Oaks
The master trainer of stayers, Ciaron Maher, dealt a body blow to punters when $101 chance Socks Nation scored a fighting win in Saturday’s $700,000 Group 1 Seven Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.