Melbourne, November 18 – David Hayes and Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud have enjoyed much success over the years and combined with two year-old Shamardal (USA) fully Bulbula to win the Listed MRC Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

The filly showed plenty of dash for Michael Walker to lead from the outside draw in a field of seven and kicked on strongly to win the 1000 metre dash by a length.

“It was really good. It surprised me she could lead so easily,” Hayes said. “She has always showed a bit of speed at home but she got her own way in front.

“It’s a long straight and she kept kicking all the way down the straight.

“She’s hairy in the coat, a bit backward and she’s not actually a speed filly, but I just thought she must have flown the start and did it very, very easy.”

A homebred for Shadwell that was foaled and raised at Yarraman Park, Bulbula is the first foal of former stakes-winning juvenile Taameer, a daughter of General Nediym that was also raced by Shadwell and trained by David Hayes.

Taameer has a yearling colt by Stratum and has already foaled this spring producing a colt by Bernardini (USA).