The high-class Ocean Park mare Another Dollar can be hard to catch, although she loves her winters in Queensland as she proved once again with her fast-finishing win in Saturday’s Group III Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben, which should add to her value when she goes under the hammer at the National Broodmare Sale on July 20.
With Luke Dittman in the saddle, the Chris Waller-trained mare defeated the Michael Costa-trained La Pulga (Dream Ahead) by a neck with the winner’s stablemate Alward (IRE) (Aqlaam) a length and a quarter back in third.
The 5yo daughter of Ocean Park was coming off a disappointing seventh in the Group III Tattersalls Cup at Eagle Farm when she was not suited by the slow tempo.
However, Another Dollar seems to save her best for Doomben where she finished runner-up to stablemate Youngstar in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Group II The Roses at three.
"Last start she was forced to go back from a wide barrier which probably didn't suit her off a slow tempo. It wasn't particularly quick today either, but the win was aided by a great ride from Luke,” assistant trainer Paul Shailer said.
"She takes a while to wind up and here at Doomben with the shorter straight we probably preferred a few of our other runners over here, but Luke had her sitting so close in the run she had just enough time to wind up and hit the line.
"It was a real bit of astute riding from him late when she was fighting it out with La Pulga as it looked like he switched the stick from his right to left hand which can often lift these stayers late.
"She doesn't win out of turn this mare. I actually told her owner she was probably up against it today, but she goes home to Sydney with a Group Three to her name."
Winner of the Listed Gosford Gold Cup at Randwick in May, Another Dollar advances her record to 5 wins, 6 seconds and 6 thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $696,625.
Purchased by her trainer for $190,000 at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the daughter of Ocean Park comes from one of Waikato Stud’s great families.
She is the best of three winners from five to race out of the winning Pins mare Make A Wish who is a three-quarter-sister to stakes-placegetters Golden Sand Steed and Eclectus and half-sister to Ambitious (dam of Group II Gloaming Stakes winner and Group 1 Australian Guineas runner-up Strike The Stars) out of the beautifully related Centaine mare Starcent.
At the 2019 NZB Yearling Sale at Karaka, David Ellis went to $1.4 million for a Savabeel colt out of Make A Wish.
After missing to Savabeel in 2018, Make a Wish was covered by the champion Waikato Stud stallion again last season.
Another Dollar is one of nine stakes-winners for Ocean Park who has enjoyed a wonderful season in Australia with five stakes-winners, which includes the Group 1 winners Kolding and Tofane.
She will be offered at the Gold Coast as Lot 114.
