Australian Oaks 2016: Kathy O’Hara hurt in fall as Sofia Rosa charges to victory in Group 1 feature

SOFIA Rosa completed a Kiwi double in the Randwick three-year-old classics as she took out the Australian Oaks — but the race was marred by a fall involving Single Gaze and Kathy O’Hara.

Photographs: Simon Bullard. Race 6 - 2:35PM JAMES BOAG'S PREMIUM AUSTRALIAN OAKS (2400 METRES). Winner 'Sofia Rosa' ridden by Hugh Bowman.

SOFIA Rosa completed a Kiwi double in the Royal Randwick three-year-old classics as she took out the $1 million ATC Australian Oaks — but the race was marred by a horrific fall involving Single Gaze and Kathy O’Hara.

As the Oaks field swung around the home turn, Single Gaze appeared to clip heels of the runner in front, Happy Hannah, and crashed to the turf.

O’Hara took a heavy fall and then Single Gaze appeared to roll on top of her.

As O’Hara lay motionless on the track, ambulance officers were quickly on the scene as Single Gaze’s trainer Nick Olive and the filly’s owner sprinted up the straight to attend to the jockey and horse.

Sofia Rose, ridden by Hugh Bowman, took out the Oaks but all eyes at Randwick then swept back to the top of the straight as O’Hara lay on the turf.

O’Hara is believed to have suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs and a collarbone injury in the incident.

“Kathy O’Hara was talking to the ambulance officers but she was in a fair bit of pain,’’ Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy said. “She has been taken to St Vincent’s Hospital.’’

Single Gaze came out of the fall with nothing more than bruising and some lacerations to her hind legs.

So, a week after the New Zealander Tavago won the ATC Australian Derby, the Kiwis were celebrating again as Sofia Rosa won the Oaks.

Sofia Rosa was first over the line in the New Zealand Oaks only to lose that race on protest and her trainer, Stephen Marsh wasn’t about to start celebrating early.

“I’m waiting for the protest siren,’’ Marsh said.

Single Gaze and Kathy O’Hara crash to the turf as the field enters the straight. Picture: Simon Bullard

But there was never any concerns this time and Marsh admitted it was “an awesome feeling” to win the ATC Australian Oaks.

“We brought her over earlier in the season and gave her a couple of runs but she looked like a little foal,’’ Marsh said. “But we’ve always had this Oaks in mind from a long way out. I think all of the planning and all the hard work has paid off. She’s difficult to train and ride but she gets a lot of time put into her and that’s where we get the results.”

Sofia Rosa ($4.80) gave Bowman his fourth winner of the meeting when she defeated Ambience ($41) by a half length with Believe ($61) a half neck away third. Favourite Jameka ($3.20) was slow to begin and settled back near last before running on fo fourth.

Kathy O’Hara is believed to have suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs and a collarbone injury in the fall. Picture: Jenny Evans

“She just didn’t show speed out of the gates today,” Jameka’s jockey Damien Oliver said. “I had a nice run, followed the winner and was a couple lengths off when we straightened. The winner just quickened a bit better than her.’’

Bowman scored his 10th Group 1 win of the season on Sofia Rosa — and his third ATC Australian Oaks after scoring on Daffodil (2009) and Streama (2012).

But the champion jockey admitted Sofia Rosa was not an easy ride.

“Not everything went to plan for this filly. I’ve ridden some difficult horses in my time but this one takes the cake,’’ Bowman said. “She is so temperamental. She went out onto the track early and she hasn’t given me a minute’s peace since I got on her.

Sofia Rosa will be aimed at the Caulfield Cup in the spring. Picture: Simon Bullard

“Even when I went for her she baulked and ducked in, then I straightened her. She has got some fight. But I am so happy for Lib (Petagna) the owner because I cost him an Oaks here a couple of years ago on Lucia Valentina. To repay him on this filly, means more to me than anything.”

Marsh said Sofia Rosa will now be spelled and set for the Caulfield Cup in the spring.

Originally published as Australian Oaks 2016: Kathy O’Hara hurt in fall as Sofia Rosa charges to victory in Group 1 feature