Bjorn Baker’s So You Think (NZ) gelding So Your Are added a fourth consecutive black type victory to his record, taking out Wednesday's $500,000 G3 Bendigo Cup (2400m), but still needs a decent penalty to secure a position in Tuesday’s $10m G1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Dropping back slightly in trip off the back of his last start win in the G3 St Leger at Randwick, So You Are was sent off the favourite with the Rachel King ridden gelding getting the run of the race after going forward to settle behind the leader after a good get away from the inside barrier.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s The Euphrates (GB) took up the running and after the field had passed the winning post on the first occasion, the Ciaron Maher trained second favourite Kings Valley (IRE) had pulled himself to sit in second after he was unable to get in from barrier 10.
With 1300m to run, The Euphrates was leading as he liked with Kings Valley tracking along in second, while King looked extremely comfortable with So You Are as another of the contenders Litzdeel was getting a good run in fourth.
With the home bend fast approaching, King came off the back of the leader to push the tiring Kings Valley out of the way to put to take the lead aboard the favourite.
Kicking clear at the 200m mark, So You Are started to weaken slightly as the line was reached, holding off the fast-finishing Berkeley Square to be by three parts of a length with Litzdeel a further half length back in third.
Holding on for fourth some four and a half lengths from the winner was Kings Valley it what was a pleasing effort after his wide passage.
Bendigo Cup | So You Are Air-Bjorn! So You Are makes it four wins on the trot and takes out the 2026 Bendigo Cup for @BBakerRacing & @RachelK11 ?? ?? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy https://t.co/2ZMycHT2Ls
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 28, 2026
Needing a 1.5kg penalty to secure his position in the final field for the Melbourne Cup, Baker’s Racing Manager Luke Hilton feels he has done enough to make it.
"He can't do any more, it's been a bit frustrating. He's done everything he can, the horse, he deserved to be there and hopefully that's enough to get him in,” said Hilton.
"Great campaign, he's just got better and better each time. He relaxed beautifully today, gates are a big help, he was able to get a good run in the race and Rach put him into the race when she was ready to go and he was tough.
"We thought he may get in after winning the St Leger, but he needed a few more points. We had a look at the Moonee Valley Cup and Bjorn and Mr Ramsay put their heads together and came up with this plan today and it's come off. Let's hope it's enough."
"He was very green and credit to Stirling (Osborne) and the guys when we got him, they said that he was learning and still needed to mature and he's just got better and better each time.
"Rach and Bjorn have done a lot of work with him. His form was a little bit questionable Melbourne way, that was probably the only glitch that we thought he might have, but he really handled it well today.
"Credit to the team, they've done a great at home with him, and he's getting better."
"He doesn't win by big margins, which probably counts against him in terms of getting a little bit more from the handicappers, but he just keeps doing it so you can't knock winning form."
Having built a strong recorded with the gelding, Rachel King hopes the handicapper will give him enough pf a penalty to take his place in the Cup field.
Asked how the race unfolded, King was very happy.
“Perfectly. Nice gate obviously helps, but he had a couple of runs in Melbourne and probably not run up to standard before so it was good to see him get it done the other way around.”
“He's just a horse in really good form. He's tough, he puts himself on speed, he makes life easy and he doesn't want to let one get past him.
“Even from his first start back this prep when I rode him, he was probably doing things a little upside down and just needed to refine his craft and the more racing he's had the better he's got.
When asked about his Cup chances, King says he needs to make the field first.
“Fingers crossed they're nice to us now and let us in.”
With eight wins and 12 placed efforts from 28 starts, the Stuart Ramsey bred and raced gelding has now taken his earnings passed the $1.2m mark.
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 after being passed in just shy of his $100,000 reserve price.
The 5yo gelding is the best of three winners 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 125 stakes performers for Coolmore's ten-time G1 winner So You Think whose legacy is being continued by sons D’Argento, Peltzer and Quick Thinker at stud.
