Former Eliza Park resident Bushranger (Ire) had his first winner at the highest level on Saturday when Sophie P (GB) made her first stakes win count in the $300,000 Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita Park.
Purchased last year for 160,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, Sophie P (GB) was making just her second start stateside for trainer Jim Cassidy.
She was sixth in the Grade II Royal Heroine Stakes after arriving from Europe with four wins in Europe from 19 starts and was runner-up in a Listed stakes at Ayr.
In a dramatic three-way finish, Sophie P edged Madame Stripes in the final strides as Madam Dancealot mounted a strong challenge on the rail.
"Once she had clear sailing, she really took off," winning jockey Kent Desormeaux said.
"She had to fight to catch the leader and was very fortunate to beat the horse that she couldn't see. The photo finish describes it completely. My horse was completely stretched out, and the (other) horse is completely coiled up, so it was a very fortunate win."
Sophie P is the lone winner from three to race out of the Giant's Causeway mare Fountains Abbey whose dam Dream Bay (Mr Prospector) is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Nadia.
Bushranger (Danetime) claimed Group 1 victories in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes before shuttling between Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland and Eliza Park in Victoria for five seasons.
The sire of 11 stakes-winners Bushranger did not return to Australia after covering 20 mares in 2014.
