Setting the pace on the Australian General Sires List with progeny earnings topping $16.4 million, So You Think added two more promising winners to his tally early in the afternoon on Wednesday with Excelladus bolting in at Warwick Farm, while Lethal Thoughts won on debut at Sale.
Gelded after three unplaced runs last year when he drew badly every time and raced without luck, the John Thompson trained three year-old Excelladus returned to racing with a spring in his step.
Tuned up with a couple of recent trials, Excelladus was well supported by punters and jumped as favourite for the 1300m maiden with Brenton Avdulla on board.
He made light work of the heavy 10 conditions and cruised home to win by nearly four lengths in a dominant performance.
“We’ve had a big opinion of him for a long time when he was a colt, but he needed gelding,” said John Thompson.
“It’s been a long term plan to win with him first up and he has a very bright future.
“He’s a beautiful type and I’m just rapt to have him."
A $160,000 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale purchase for Dermot Farrington Bloodstock from the Amarina Farm draft, Excelladus runs for Paul Fudge’s Waratah Thoroughbreds.
He is the third winner from Group I winning Commands mare Russeting, who sadly died in 2020.
So You Think also posted a debut juvenile winner trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace when Lethal Thoughts finished hard between runners to snatch a head win in the open 1200m maiden at Sale.
A $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds draft for The Racing League, he runs for a big group of owners under the Vic Husslers banner.
Lethal Thoughts was bred by Senga Bissett and Ivan Woodford-Smith, who have had much success with this family. He is the first foal from St Remy, a winning Star Witness mare from the family of Group winners I Am a Ripper and Murphy’s Blu Boy.
He is also closely related to Group winners Stampede, Thinkin’ Big and stakes-winner Just Thinkin’, who are all from this female family and sired by either High Chaparral (RE) or his champion son So You Think.
