With four previous black type placed performances to his credit, So You Think’s 5yo So You Are was too strong in the run to the line, winning the $200,000 Listed ATC DrinkWise Cup (2400m) at Randwick, having just his second start for new trainer Bjorn Baker.
A narrow second last time out in the G3 ATC Premier’s Cup with Friday’s Listed Wyong Cup winner Mutualism having finished third, So You Are appreciated the step up to 2400m, and while he had not won at the trip in the past, he'd never finished further back than fourth, all being at black type level.
One of two in the race for Baker, the other being favourite Thebudgiesmugla (NZ), jockey Rachel King took So You Are forward to settle in second position behind the 100/1 outsider Mr Tadashi.
With the leading pair maintaining their positions throughout until just before the home turned where Mr Tadashi put up the white flag, King came to the outside of the tiring leader where So You Are started to assert his superiority.
Pulling clear, it was up to those behind to make up the required ground, but none were able to do so as So You Are was too tough all the way to the line, and while the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Fernao (IRE) made up many ground late, it didn’t change the winning result.
“I've only had him for the two starts. I've been very lucky to get a readymade horse and he's fairly bombproof,” said Baker. “It worked out really well today. We were able to put him up there.”
"When I first came over he (Stuart Ramsey) was one of the first people to give me a horse, so to win a good race like this at Randwick is very special.”
As for where the winner, as well as the fourth placed Thebidgiesmugla (NZ) will head next, Baker felt they would both head down a similar path.
“We'll have a think about it and weigh it up,” Baker said.
“The Metropolitan is definitely an option. A race like The Bart Cummings as well. Even the St Leger here on Everest day.”
Winning by a length and three-quarters, So You Are took his overall record to five wins and 12 placed efforts from 25 starts with earnings of $537,670.
Bred by Ramsey Pastoral Pty Ltd, So You Are was retained to race by his breeders after being passed in shy of his $100,000 reserve at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when offered through the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds.
So You Are is the third winner, and first at black type level from four to the races out of the Hard Spun mare Tornado Gal, a half-sister to Listed winner Skyt, both out of the G3-winning Sir Tristram mare Sky Tryst.
Unfortunately, Tornado Gal passed away after producing just one more foal, with the now 4yo Vancouver mare Always A Rainbow being a last start winner for So You Are’s original trainer Stirling Osland.
So You Are became the 71st stakes winner for former Coolmore stallion So You Think whose legacy is being continued by sons D’Argento, Peltzer and Quick Thinker at stud.
