Every second counts: Bush galloper set to go past Tom Melbourne's mark
And if she goes one better on Saturday at Randwick, either to 15 seconds, or even a fifth win, her Scone trainer and part-owner Scott Singleton will be happy.
'The fact that they earn such good prize money running second, it takes the frustration out of it because you feel like a winner anyway,' said Singleton, who owns 20 per cent of the galloper, which has earned $559,690 from 28 starts.
'But that last start, you can't say she ran second because she wants to. You could just tell she was trying her heart out. It's just how it's worked out with her.
'I wouldn't say it's frustrating. I'd just love her to win one for her.'
Now-retired Tom Melbourne, an import bought for just $7800, rose to cult status with 14 seconds and just five wins across 50 Australian starts, often at stakes level, to earn $1.4 million.
While Dollar Magic has never challenged those heights, she is a consistent performer, winning four races and missing a place just six times. Twelve of her runner-up efforts have been on a Saturday in town. Her only Saturday metro win came at home, on Scone's annual standalone meeting, last year.
The seven-year-old mare, a homebred daughter of Shamus Award for Singleton's long-time clients Wal and Anne Lanham, went to 14 seconds last time out at Rosehill in a 1200m fillies and mares benchmark 78 handicap on July 19.
She returns to town for an identical race, the third on the card, and Singleton is confident she can challenge again. Out of the Lanhams' mare Last Dollars, Dollar Magic was matched with Shamus Award when he stood for $22,000 at Widden Stud.
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