Kathy O’Hara has won her first Group 1 race in today’s Coolmore Classic at Rosehill racecourse on Ron Quinton trained daughter of Mossman ‘Ofcourseican’.
Ofcourseican settled in the back of the field during the race, Kathy O’Hara pulled her ride to the outside heading around the turn which is where Manighar won from in the previous race and was too strong for gallant Secret Admirer who fought hard with 58kg in the final stages.
Ofcourseican opened at $11 on Wednesday but has drifted throughout the week and she started at $14.60 on S-TAB on jump.
There was a protest submitted by Michelle Payne who rode Yosei and finished fourth although due the the winning margin of 1.5L it was dismissed so placings stood as is.
Ofcourseican gave Kathy O’Hara her first Group One winner and trainer Ron Quinton a career milestone when she scored a thrilling win in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on Saturday.
Former champion jockey Quinton won the inaugural running of the race on Miss Personality in 1973 and also scored aboard champion Emancipation in 1984.
“She toughed it right out,” an ecstatic O’Hara said.
“It’s a goal of mine I’ve wanted to achieve for a long time.
“I’m just thrilled.
“I’m just really pleased I could pull it off.
“It’s great to ride a winner for Ronnie, he was a champion rider and is a great trainer in his own right.
“She (Ofcourseican) just stuck her head down when it counted.”
Ofcourseican beat the gritty topweight Secret Admirer with King’s Rose third but had to survive a protest from Michelle Payne on fourth-placed Yosei before the result was ratified.
Results:
1st: Ofcourseican
2nd: Secret Admirer
3rd: King’s Rose
4th: Yosei
