A Very Pretty Blue Hen

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 18
Not many broodmares have five foals to race and all of them are stakes horses, but that's the case for Encosta de Lago mare Pretty Penny, whose progressive five year-old son Dollar for Dollar claimed the Group III MRC Chandler Macleod Recruitment Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.



The handsome Tony McEvoy trained son of High Chaparral (IRE) has been in hot form this spring posting three successive wins in easier grade before coming into his first Black Type test.

Ridden forward from an inside draw by Jamie Kah, Dollar for Dollar (image Darryl Sherer)  travelled up on the pace and fought hard to the line to win the 1400 metre contest by a long neck.

"I've won a Group Three before, but that was unbelievable," said Kah, who has ridden Dollar for Dollar in all four of his past wins this preparation.

"I just love this horse. I love how much heart he has. He's probably got enough talent to win a race like this but he's got a heart to win a Group One."

Pretty PennyA winner of seven of his 12 starts with prizemoney in excess of $270,000, Dollar for Dollar was retained and syndicated privately by his breeder Bill Cockram, who retains a share in his ownership.

The 109th stakes-winner for the late great High Chaparral, he is the third stakes-winner for Pretty Penny, who is also the dam of Group II winner Sertorius(winner on this day of the Group II Zipping Classic in 2013), Group III winner Clifton Red and stakes-placed I Am Titanium and Fortune of War.

The Black Type quartet are her first five foals, so it's not surprising that when Pretty Penny was offered at the 2016 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale she fetched a 'pretty penny' with Colm Santry Bloodstock securing the mare for $570,000 on behalf of Dr Dennis and Claire O'Brien of Clairden Racing.

"She was in foal to Brazen Beau and we have a really lovely filly as a result of that mating that will be offered at Inglis Easter next year," said Colm Santry.

"Pretty Penny is a remarkable mare to produce five serious stakes horses as her first five foals, so this filly will be something exceptional when she goes through the ring next year."

Pretty Penny sadly lost a foal this spring by Vancouver, but has since been covered by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (USA).


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