CLOSE but no cigar.

That’s been the tale of the tape for Dubleo mare Koonoomoo who has had to settle for silver in her last two runs – one in the Listed Sportingbet Final on Caulfield Guineas, the the at Geelong in Wednesday’s Black Pearl.

Despite these near misses, the Simon Vercoe trained mare has at least managed to take her earnings near to $220,000 and edge closer to that all important stakes win.

A second crop Dubleo, Koonoomoo boasts Golden Slipper winners Rory’s Jester and Luskin Star as the sire of her first and second dams.

Her third dam, Embassadora won the Chipping Norton and Apollo Stakes and is also the grand-dam of Hong Kong Champions Mile winner, Jeune King Prawn.