HORSE RACING: Sunshine Coast trainer Garnett Taylor hopes Dawson Diva can gallop to a bright future after achieving her biggest payday.

The underrated three-yearold filly, at $151 odds, finished just shy of a Group 1 victory during the $500,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Diva charged from 10th at the 400m mark to finish runner-up 0.2 lengths behind Winning Ways.

“(We always believed she was) a big chance and we couldn’t believe the price,” Taylor said.

“I thought she was going to get there but the other one kicked strongly and we were beaten by the better horse on the day but it was a great thrill.

“(Dawson Diva) was my first Group 1 runner and I was pretty happy about it and the owners were too.”

Chris Waller’s Lady Cuvee rounded out the top three.

Despite winning lucrative lower-level outings in the past, Saturday’s result was the filly’s biggest prizemoney haul with $90,000.

Taylor was still undecided as to what the next move would be for his runner but said a well-deserved spell before a possible trip south is on the cards.

“We may be looking at something in Melbourne in the Spring,” he said.

“She’s been in work since October and if there was something around now we would consider it but we can’t seem to find much so maybe it’s a spell and then we’ll head down there or maybe she’ll get another run and then maybe do the summer here.

“We’re still undecided as to which way we’re going to go.”

Regardless of the path, Taylor was hopeful Dawson Diva could strengthen into an even more solid runner in the future.

“We hope so (heading to big things), you don’t want to count your chickens before they hatch but she’s a very honest and very tough horse and she’ll run a trip,” he said.

“I have no doubts she can run further than the 2200m too.”