Sofia Rosa
Photo- Darryl Sherer
Sofia Rosa (NZ) became the third individual Group One winner for Westbury Stud-based sire Makfi (Dubawi) when winning the Australian Oaks at Randwick for Kiwi trainer Stephen Marsh.
The filly had finished first past the post in last month's New Zealand Oaks at Trentham but was demoted to second place after causing interference to runner-up Fanatic.
However, she claimed her maiden top-level success in the Australian equivalent with a half-length victory under Hugh Bowman.
Bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, Sofia Rosa is out of the unplaced Encosta De Lago mare Bislieri, a half-sister to Group Three scorer Bel Danoro from the family of dual Group One winner Marwong.
She was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $65,000 at the 2014 Karaka Select Yearling Sale and this January a sister to the future Oaks heroine sold at the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for $200,000 to Te Akau Racing.
Bislieri is currently back in foal to Makfi.
A son of Dubawi, Makfi was crowned champion three-year-old miler in 2010 after victories in the English 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Retired to Tweenhills Farm and Stud in 2011, the nine-year-old stallion's first crop of runners yielded last year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix de la Foret winner Make Believe.
In the second half of 2011 he shuttled to Westbury Stud in New Zealand and it was during his time here that his two other top flight winners were conceived.
Champion New Zealand two-year-old in 2014-15, Marky Mark, winner of last year's Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, and Sofia Rosa were both foaled in 2012 and hail from the first southern hemisphere crop of Makfi.
In addition to his three Group One winners, Makfi has sired an additional three Group winners and also has ten stakes placegetters to date and better than 54 per cent winners-to-runners.
Owned by Qatar's Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who paid a reported £12,000,000 for the entire at the end of his three-year-old season, Makfi retired to stud in Britain in 2011 but relocated to France last year. He continues to shuttle to Westbury Stud in New Zealand, where he has proved increasingly popular.
Makfi covered by far his biggest book of mares at Westbury Stud last season, with 92 mares served in his fifth season at stud, a substantial rise on the 50 covered in 2014.
The filly had finished first past the post in last month's New Zealand Oaks at Trentham but was demoted to second place after causing interference to runner-up Fanatic.
However, she claimed her maiden top-level success in the Australian equivalent with a half-length victory under Hugh Bowman.
Bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, Sofia Rosa is out of the unplaced Encosta De Lago mare Bislieri, a half-sister to Group Three scorer Bel Danoro from the family of dual Group One winner Marwong.
She was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $65,000 at the 2014 Karaka Select Yearling Sale and this January a sister to the future Oaks heroine sold at the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for $200,000 to Te Akau Racing.
Bislieri is currently back in foal to Makfi.
A son of Dubawi, Makfi was crowned champion three-year-old miler in 2010 after victories in the English 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Retired to Tweenhills Farm and Stud in 2011, the nine-year-old stallion's first crop of runners yielded last year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix de la Foret winner Make Believe.
In the second half of 2011 he shuttled to Westbury Stud in New Zealand and it was during his time here that his two other top flight winners were conceived.
Champion New Zealand two-year-old in 2014-15, Marky Mark, winner of last year's Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, and Sofia Rosa were both foaled in 2012 and hail from the first southern hemisphere crop of Makfi.
In addition to his three Group One winners, Makfi has sired an additional three Group winners and also has ten stakes placegetters to date and better than 54 per cent winners-to-runners.
Owned by Qatar's Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who paid a reported £12,000,000 for the entire at the end of his three-year-old season, Makfi retired to stud in Britain in 2011 but relocated to France last year. He continues to shuttle to Westbury Stud in New Zealand, where he has proved increasingly popular.
Makfi covered by far his biggest book of mares at Westbury Stud last season, with 92 mares served in his fifth season at stud, a substantial rise on the 50 covered in 2014.