Legendary trainer Bart Cummings made more history last spring when he sent the inexperienced colt So You Think out to win the WS Cox Plate; at his fifth start, it heralded another superb training performance by the master.
Bart then backed up So You Think into the Cantala Stakes (1600m open Hcp) at Flemington seven days later and All American (by Red Ransom) defeated the colt in controversial circumstances.
At some stage after that contest, So You Think underwent an operation to correct a problem on the left hand side of his larynx by a veterinary surgeon.
Racehorses frequently undergo endoscopic evaluation prior to purchase, as it is considered that if they have a problem it will negatively affect the horses’ future. Many veterinarians will advise if surgery does proceed to correct a larynx problem that a horse can restore its racing performance, however, it may not be to levels similar to a matched group of peers, previously.
Therefore, when So You Think jumped well and travelled kindly with his neck stretched out, under the kind hands of Steve Arnold with a perfect trail less than 47 seconds remained, before Bart and racing fans at Caulfield and those watching the coverage on TV had the question ‘has he come back?’ answered.
Striding up alongside Typhoon Tracy on the home corner he was shortly joined by Zabrasive, as Michael Rodd on Whobegotyou followed. Once straightened, Zabrasive was no longer alongside them and Rodd felt for Whobegotyou, while Arnold waited for a few more strides as they strode past Typhoon Tracy. Just as Whobegotyou ranged alongside So You Think, Arnold urged the colt along and he laid his ears back and they strode clear to claim the feature sprint by a half-length.
Whobegotyou (Street Cry - Temple of Peace by Carnegie), a quality galloper, made his return in fine style was a length clear of Shoot Out (High Chaparral – Pentamerous by Pentire) who dived late to deny Typhoon Tracy.
So You Think is by, High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells-Kasora by Darshaan) who had his first winner at the elite level last season in Australia when Monaco Consul won the AJC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick at just his fifth race start. So You Think was his second winner at the highest level, again at his fifth start, when he claimed an all the way win in the WS Cox Plate, his dam is the Group 3 winner Triassic by Tights (Nijinsky).
High Chaparral won 10 of his 13 starts including the English and Irish Derby’s (2400m) at three and the Breeders Cup Turf (2400m) at three where he defeated the older horses and at four. He also added to his Group 1 tally (six) with a win over 1600m at two in the Racing Post Trophy and 2000m in the Champion Stakes at four.
Sadler’s Wells is also the sire of Scenic (IRE), sire of Bart’s 2009 Caulfield Cup and 2008 Melbourne Cup winner,Viewed, and co-leader with So You Think in last seasons ANZ Classifications with a rating of 122.
Triassic won from 1400m-2000m, but none of her previous seven winners including runners by Sadler’s Wells sons Carnegie and Galileo won past 1600m. The grandam stakes placed Astral Row, by the miler Long Row (GB), had two other winners up to 1400m but her half-sister Runs Riot did produce the Group 3 Dunedin Gold Cup (2300m) Red Card (Red Tempo).
There is plenty of staying blood further back in the pedigree, but perhaps the mix of High Chaparral’s classic excellence and Triassic’s turn of foot has enabled Bart to work his magic on So You Think, and credit to the staff that have helped nurse and prepare this wonderful horse back to the race track this year.
Just another thing this wonderful man does so historically well.
