Sookera was an American-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare.
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15 Facts About Sookera
1.
2.
Sookera returned from a late summer break and finished second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes before winning the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes.
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3.
Sookera never ran again but became a very successful broodmare.
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4.
Sookera produced several winners including So Factual and is the female-line ancestor of numerous major winners including Dansili, Leroidesanimaux, Banks Hill and Intercontinental.
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5.
Sookera was a "strong, good-quartered" brown mare with a white blaze bred in Kentucky by the British businessman Robert Sangster in association with the British Bloodstock Agency.
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7.
Sookera's dam, Irule, was a granddaughter of Itsabet, an American broodmare whose other descendants have included the dam of Giant's Causeway.
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8.
Sookera was sent to race in Europe where she was trained by Dermot Weld.
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9.
Sookera made her racing debut on 17 March, the opening day of the 1977 Irish flat racing season, when she won the Castrol Stakes over five furlongs on soft ground at Phoenix Park Racecourse.
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10.
Sookera recorded her first major win as took the lead a furlong out and won decisively by one and a half lengths from Tumbledownwind, a colt who went on to win the Gimcrack Stakes.
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11.
Sookera appeared slightly short of full fitness in the pre-race paddock and finished second, beaten one and three quarter lengths by the winner Ridaness.
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12.
Sookera took the lead a furlong out and looked likely to win easily but had to be pushed out by Swinburn in the closing stages to hold off Petty Purse and Fair Salinia by three quarters of a length and a head.
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13.
Sookera was expected to be a contender for the British Classic Races in 1978 but never ran competitively again after her win at Newmarket.
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14.
Sookera was retired from racing to become a broodmare for Sangster before being sold to Juddmonte Farms.
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15.
Sookera produced at least 11 foals and 8 winners between 1980 and 1996.
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