Sandown Stud’s exciting new stallion Soqrat gained a fine boost to his pedigree following the running of the G1 Del Mars over the weekend.

The 2020 Del Mars Oaks was won by the Patrick Gallagher trained Red Lark, whose multiple G1 winning sire Epaulette also ranks as the sire of Equus Champion and multiple G1 winner Soqrat.

After breaking her maiden at Santa Anita in February, the daughter of Epaulette has been consistent at stakes level without breaking through. She finished fourth in the G3 Honeymoon Stakes, second in the G3 Wilshire Stakes on June 20 and was third, beaten a length, behind her Del Mar Oaks rivals Carpe Vinum and California Kook in a allowance optional claimer at Del Mar on July 20.

With Drayden Van Dyke in the saddle, Red Lark settled just off midfield before becoming a menacing presence when fourth on the home turn.

After disposing of Warren’s Showtime Red Lark safely held the challenge of the late finishing California Kook a length.

The three-year-old has now earned $525 000 in stakes.

Her sire Epaulette (one of 13 G1 winners sired by the Danehill son Commands) was a high-class galloper who won both the G1 Golden Rose and G1 BRC Doomben Ten Thousand during a career which saw Epaulette bank more than $1.7 million in prize money.

Epaulette’s outstanding son Soqrat, South Africa’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2017-2018, is standing his first season at Sandown this year.

The brilliant Soqrat ran first or second in seven G1 winners and emulated champion sires Captain Al and Jet Master when he won the G1 Cape Guineas.