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Kathy O'Hara has become just the fourth Australian woman to ride a Group One winner, appropriately claiming the Coolmore Classic on Ladies Day at Rosehill.
The Ron Quinton-trained Ofcourseican continued the former jockey's affinity with the Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
O'Hara's celebrations after the $600,000 Coolmore were momentarily halted when Michelle Payne fired in a protest on behalf of fourth-placed Yosei.
Payne claimed interference from the 900m to 400m mark had cost her ground but stewards swiftly dismissed the objection.
A former champion Sydney apprentice, O'Hara had previously been placed at Group One level twice but went into the Coolmore confident Ofcourseican was her best hope yet at the elite level.
Ofcourseican ($13) kept dual Group One winner Secret Admirer ($11) at bay by a head with King's Rose ($5) a half-neck away third to give Quinton his first Coolmore success as a trainer having previously won it twice as a jockey.
"I won the first Coolmore ever run (in 1973) and then I won it again on the great mare Emancipation (in 1984) with 60 kilograms. Now I've come along and won it as a trainer which is pretty special," Quinton said.
"As a trainer you are with them every day so it gives you great satisfaction.
"She has been her own worst enemy at times but she's a wonderfully talented galloper."
An eight-time premier Sydney jockey, Quinton rode in the era when female jockeys were only just starting to gain acceptance.
"The first lady to win a race at Randwick beat me by a head," Quinton recalled.
O'Hara, 25, sat back on Ofcourseican before bringing the mare down the extreme outside.
"I'm just thrilled to bits," O'Hara said.
"I've got to thank Ron for sticking with me. After her last-start win I'm sure there would have been plenty of others wanting the ride.
"I said leading into the race that I thought she was my best chance yet of winning a Group One and it's turned out great."
Three-year-old filly Streama drifted from $3.40 to $5.50 and finished fifth while heavily-backed favourite Steps In Time ($3.90) led the field before finishing eighth.
Payne claimed O'Hara had pushed her out from the 900m and took her rightful running behind Secret Admirer between that point and the turn.
Yosei finished 1-1/2-lengths behind the winner.
Chief steward Ray Murrihy labelled the incident a racing manoeuvre you see day in, day out.
Payne had to leave the course to catch a plane home to Melbourne but Murrihy said stewards would speak to her about the merits of the protest on Monday.
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