Bulbula dazzles on debut

Shadwell Stud Australasia homebred Bulbula made a dazzling debut to make all the running and land the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes for two-year-olds over five-furlongs at Sandown Park and become the 45th Stakes winner for Shamardal.

Breaking sharply from a wide draw, Bulbula quickly crossed to lead and she showed her rivals a clean pair of heels from there. Clear into the straight she was ridden along and comfortably maintained her advantage to score by one-length at the finish with Exceed And Excel colt Sidestep running on strongly for third.

Bulbula is the first foal of Taameer, a daughter of General Nediym and the winner of the Listed William Crockett Stakes and Walter Brown Stakes. Taameer has a 2012 colt by Bernardini.

Shamardal is the sire of 45 Stakes winners, headed by eight Group 1 winners including Lope De Vega, Faint Perfume, Zazou, Sagawara and Captain Sonador. 

He stands at Kildangan Stud in Ireland and his fee in 2013 has been set at 50,000 euro.