Oceanex Earns a Golden Ticket to the Melbourne Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday May 16

Oceanex’s wonderful season rolls on with the daughter of Ocean Park earning a golden ticket to the Melbourne Cup after turning over the favourite King Of Leogrance in Saturday’s  Listed Andrew Ramsden stakes (2800m) at Flemington.

Oceanex books her ticket to the Melbourne Cup - image Brett Holburt/ Racing Photos

Coming off a win in the Listed Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville, the Mike Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained mare travelled sweetly third on the fence from an inside barrier but Mark Zahra had to bide his time as Damien Oliver made first run on the favourite.

When the gap appeared, Oceanex rounded in King Of Leogrance (Camelot) in the space of a few strides to win by three-quarters of a length with Super Girl (So You Think) a length and a quarter back in third.

The winner of the $300,000 Group II Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival, Oceanex advances her record to 6 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $676,970.

“(Tom) Marquand got on her in Sydney and said ‘you want to try this over a mile-and-a-half,” Price told racing.com.

“So her first run over 2500 metres in Adelaide was strong and today was fantastic.

 “I know she drew barrier one and got the gun ride with a good  pair of hands from  Zahra, but still, she beat the right horse in the race and she won convincingly going away.”

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. 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Andrew Ramsden LR 2800m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:54.82
1
Oceanex
- 4m Ocean Park (NZ) x Danex (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M Zahra 56
2
0.8
King Of Leogrance
- 5g Camelot (GB) x Amourette (FR) (Halling (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
3
2.1
Super Girl
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Hailbella (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Joshua Julius Rdr: W Egan 56.5
So You Think
4
2.2
Skelm
- 5g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Lajoie (AUS) (Spinning World (USA))
Tnr: T D Kelly Rdr: B Melham 58.5
5
2.4
Dark Alley
- 4g Lucas Cranach (GER) x Bleverdeen (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Craig Williams 58
6
5.4
Norway
- 4h Galileo (IRE) x Love Me True (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: D Dunn 58
7
5.6
Surrey Thunder
- 4g Le Havre (IRE) x Zakania (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L Nolen 58
8
15.6
Jack Regan
- 5g Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) x Chelsey Jayne (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 58.5
9
18.8
Runaway
- 5r Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Catshaan (AUS) (Catrail (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: B Rawiller 58.5
10
23.8
Too Close The Sun
- 4g Carlton House (USA) x Old Money (AUS) (Old Spice (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Declan Bates 58
11
58.8
Sopressa
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Hidden Strings (AUS) (Weasel Clause (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 56.5
More Reading...
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.