So You Think has had a lot of exciting stakes-winners this season, but none more impressive than undefeated colt Illation, who turned the Listed SAJC HC Nitchske Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville into a procession.
Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, Illation broke his maiden on debut with a facile win at Pakenham on April 14 and went straight into this Black Type assignment at just his second start.
A full brother to Group I ATC Randwick Guineas winner Inference, Illation showed Group I ability when powering away from his rivals to win by nearly four lengths under Mark Zahra.
“His turn of foot is something I haven’t felt for quite a long time,” said Mark Zahra.
A homebred for Lindsay Maxted and partners that was foaled, raised and educated at Coolmore, after passing in at Inglis Easter, Illation has now won two from two and co-trainer Mick Price is excited about the spring.
“He’s bred to be a 2000m horse, so is a really, really promising colt and the question now is what to do with him next,” said Price.
“We’ll be setting some good plans for his spring in his 4YO year. I thought this might not be the most suitable race for him from barrier one, but you saw his turn of foot to get him out of jail and that’s what we were hoping for.”
Price revealed the colt had an issue with a spur growing behind his knee that had required surgery to rectify, delaying the start of his racing career, but Illation is now a very sound horse with great potential.
“The Cox Plate is the dream, I’d put a circle around that race,” Price concluded.
Illation is also a half-brother to Group II winner Dragin Leap and is the third stakes-winner from top producing Group II placed Redoute’s Choice mare Pontiana,w ho is also the grand-dam of this season’s Group I placed 2YO Jacquinot.
Pontiana has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible, but had no luck the past two seasons at stud with a slip and a miss.
Illation is the 39th stakes-winner for So You Think, who has sired the winners of over $16million this season and stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $93,500.
