One of the cheapest yearlings from the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Big Tiger is shaping as a saleyard gift after opening his account at his second start at Rosehill on Wednesday when taking out the $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus maiden.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, So You Think colt Big Tiger has been given plenty of time to mature and only made his debut last month with a third placing at Warwick Farm over 1300m.
Stepped up to 1400m with Tim Clark keeping the ride, Big Tiger was sent off favourite and produced a strong front running effort to score by three-quarters of a length.
“He's made a nice step forward from his encouraging debut,” said Tim Clark.
“We found the rail and took advantage of that. I think that he's going to be a horse that continues to improve as he steps out over further.
“You can see that when he comes back next time he will be a really promising middle-distance horse.
“He's very laid back; he conserves his energy. I think that when he gets out to a mile and into 2000, that's when he's going to come into his own.”
A $60,000 Inglis Easter purchaser from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft for Bonus Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Big Tiger was bred by GSA Bloodstock and is a half-brother to Group II winner Furore, who also won a HK Derby and HK Group winner Blizzard, who was thew Champion Miler in Singapore in 2019.
He is the fifth winner from five foals to race from Stormy Choice, a three-quarter sister by Redoute’s Choice to Group I QTC Brisbane Cup winner Danestorm.
Sadly, Stormy Choice passed away at the start of the spring after producing her final foal, a colt by Pierro that is a brother to Furore.
Big Tiger is a new winner this season for the late So You Think, who is setting the pace for Australian winners this season with 68 on the board.
