We have been singing the praises of Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park all season and one that has played her part in his breakout season is the four-year-old mare Oceanex who proved too strong at the end of the 2500 metres of Saturday’s Listed Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.
The Mike Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained mare had been winless in three starts since capturing the $300,000 Group II Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Oceanex after winning the Matriach Stakes image Grant Courtney
With Zac Spain in the saddle, Oceanex sat just off the pace set by the favourite Sopressa before taking control just after straightening.
The daughter of Ocean Park hit the line strongly defeat the 2018 Group 1 Schweppes Oaks winner Sopressa (So You Think) by one and three-quarter lengths with Disco Rebel (Rebel Raider) three-quarter of a length back in third.
Purchased by Mick Price Racing for $70,000 out of the Milan Park draft at the 2017 NZB 2017 Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka, Oceanex advances her record to 5 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $483,770.
She is one of eight winners from as many to race out of the stakes-placed Danasinga mare Danex, which include the Group III BRC Rough Habit Plate winner Amexed (Pentire) and the stakes-placegetters Marcellina (Savabeel) and Digital Fortress (Savabeel) as well as the 5-time winner Danahere (Dehere) the dam of stakes-winner Saint Patricks Day (Excelebration).
The 18yo Danex has a 2yo filly by Per Incanto (USA), a weanling colt by Pierro and was covered by Coolmore’s undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify last spring.
