Breaking his black type duck last time out, Bjorn Baker’s So You Think (NZ) gelding So You Are has added his second stakes victory in as many start, winning the $250,000 G3 ATC Colin Stephens Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
In the small six horse field, jockey Rachel King jumped away So You Are away well from the gates as the race favourite, working forward to settle in second position behind the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton trained Sam Hawkens (IRE).
With positions unchanged throughout a majority of the staying contest, King was happy to sit just off the leader, and as they passed the 800m mark, the favourite started to edge forward before taking the lead before the home turn.
With second favourite Bella Montagna (NZ) working into third and not letting the leader pair get too far ahead, King had other ideas as she went stride for stride with the leader, getting in front with 300m to run.
As Ciaron Maher trained Amplify made a concerted effort to chase down So You Are, the favourite packed too much punch, pulling clear to record back-to-back black type victories to win by a half neck margin.
“He had a little bit of a set back last week,” said Baker. “The race didn’t work out perfectly. “
“Great to see those Ramsey colours in front. He’s a tough man Stu. You were only half a stride away from getting sacked at any moment. I’ll survive until at least the end of the day.”
When question of Baker felt a re-handicap was in order to assist the gelding in the order of entry for the Cups, the trainer was open for a re-handicap.
“I thought it was a bigger margin than it looked. He didn’t have it all going his right way. Obviously we want to get down to Melbourne for the Cups. Handicappers I hope you are watching. Heaps of improvement with him. Give him half a kilo or one or something.”
Asked where he will head, Bjorn highlighted that a lot of things hinge on future plans.
“Obviously the Caulfield Cup he will be flat getting into that. We might look at the St Leger, could be a good race for him here. Then maybe down to Melbourne. Depends where is in the order and the scheme of things as well.”
Having ridden him last time out as well, King was pleased with the effort.
“I wasn’t too upset when that other horse wanted to go,” said King. “He probably relaxed a bit better again today.”
“He’s just big and leans his big head on you a bit. He was better today through the run. He is a funny horse, he’s giving more and more, he’s learning his race craft more and more.”
“So from the 1000m to the 800m, he suddenly picks up the bridle which is a good thing. He puts himself into the race. He needs them to be running 35s for him to be able to stay on top. He can create that pressure early which means we can run that kind of time.”
“That’s him he’s tough. Off his first run for Bjorn, you and this horse are a match made in heaven. You’ll be perfect together. They both love a bit of toughness. He’s suited very well.”
So You Are took his overall record to six wins and 12 placed efforts from 26 starts with earnings of $678,870.
Offered through the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, So You Are was retained to race by his breeder Ramsey Pastoral Pty Ltd as a result of being passed in just shy of his $100,000 reserve price.
So You Are is one of three winners 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.
The gelding is one of 72 stakes winner for former Coolmore stallion So You Think whose legacy is being continued by sons D’Argento, Peltzer and Quick Thinker at stud.
