McConachy set to raise bar with former Kiwi

By Glenn Davis

Former Kiwi sprinter Dollar Dollar has been a bargain buy for trainer Jamie McConachy who is hoping to raise the bar with the five-year-old after his assignment at Rockhampton on Tuesday.

Dollar Dollar and stable mate Antagoniser were set to clash in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1400 metres but McConachy has delayed the latter’s comeback.

“I was going to run both but I thought Antagoniser was short of a run so I’ve decided not to run him and he’ll have a barrier trial before he resumes,” McConachy said.

Dollar Dollar – an Ashley Butler mount – is on trial for the Rockhampton Amateur Cup over 1600 metres in May.

The son of Belardo is coming off a last start win in a 1300 metre Class 6 Plate at Callaghan Park in the middle of February and will be chasing his seventh win at the track.

“He’s a good horse and not too many can win six races in Rockhampton,” McConachy said.

“He’s come back better than ever this campaign after it took him a long time to learn about racing.

“I’ve taken him twice to Brisbane but he missed the kick when he failed at Doomben in his first start down there last year and he only got beaten two or so lengths after he got too far back at the Sunshine Coast in January.

“He gets back in his races and needs luck to go his way but he loves the big Rockhampton straight.”

McConachy expects a strong showing from Dollar Dollar, who was bought for $35,000 in a private sale.

“An overseas agent, Brian Wrigley, recommended him to me after he had six starts and had only run a third placing in New Zealand,” he said.

“His sire, Belardo, was a shuttle stallion for Godolphin and we got our money back after his first win for us.”

McConachy hasn’t ruled out a winter carnival campaign in Central and North Queensland with Dollar Dollar if he progresses and performs well in the Rockhampton Amateur Cup.

“He ran third once over 2000 metres in New Zealand and he could develop into a Townsville and Mackay Cup horse later on,” he said.

“But, his main aim right now is the Amateur Cup and we’ll see how he’s going around that time before deciding about the winter.”

McConachy has 12 horses in work and will soon welcome back his former star two-year-old Sunnycoast who is returning after a brief stint of two starts with Murwillumbah trainer David McColm.

Included in Sunnycoast’s four wins in eight starts was last year’s Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic for McConachy.