Ocean Road wins Gr.1 for Qatar Racing

Qatar Racing’s four-year-filly came with a superb late run to win the Gr.1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on Monday. Sheikh Fahad was present to enjoy the celebrations.

Ocean Road (Australia – Love And Laughter) had finished third in two Stakes races during her time in Britain, as well as finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Oaks, but she continued her career in the United States after also finishing midfield in the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf last November.

Switching from Hugo Palmer to Brendan Walsh, Ocean Road won an allowance race at Keeneland in mid-April and lined up as a $5.1 shot in the six-runner Gr.1 Gamely Stakes over nine furlongs at Santa Anita.

Under an inspired ride from Umberto Rispoli, Ocean Road came from last to get up late from $2.1 second favourite Going To Vega (who won the Gr.1 Rodeo Drive Stakes last October) with odds-on favourite Going Global (winner of the Gr.2 Royal Heroine Stakes on return) back in third.

“I knew she could kick,” Rispoli said. “I didn’t want to get in trouble. She kicked strong. The farther she goes, the better it will be for her.”

Walsh added: “She came out here and really took to it. We’ve got plenty to look forward to.”

Ocean Road has now won 3 of 8 starts and earned $351,772.

It’s no great surprise that Ocean Road has excelled in North America as she’s a half-sister to Wigmore Hall, winner of the Gr.1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine in both 2011 and 2012.