News - SO YOU THINK (NZ)

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.

Setting the pace on the Australian General Sires List with progeny earnings topping $16.4 million, So You Think added two more promising winners to his tally early in the afternoon on Wednesday with Excelladus bolting in at Warwick Farm, while Lethal Thoughts won on debut at Sale.

So You Think is having a benchmark season being the first stallion to crack $16million in progeny earnings and among those winners is a very promising filly that scored easily at Kilmore on Thursday.

With only two Group I races in Sydney to come this season on Saturday, the Australian General Sires List has become a fascinating affair with three sires all tied on $15million and change, so a look at the distance sire tables sheds light on the strengths of each sire.

There were four Group 1 races contested in Australia on Saturday at The Championships and it proved  to be a showcase for the talents of the mighty So You Think, who delivered three of the four elite winners.

Now, this is what you call a red-letter day.

Stealing all the glory on Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick was Coolomore Stud’s champion So You Think, who will rocket to the head of the stallion's table, earmning a third consecutive Group 1 winner when Damien Oliver coaxed the 5yo mare Nimalee to an easy victory in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

While it was a shame to see some outstanding performers struggling in the conditions, the $4,000,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick proved an epic duel between Think It Over and Zaaki (GB).

An imported son of the great So You Think, Knights Order (IRL) went straight to the front under Rachel King and proceeded to grind her opponents into the ground in Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick.

There were smiles, handshakes and even a few tears of joy on the afternoon of the second day of the National Yearling Sale at Karaka when a pair of South Island breeding operations struck gold with youngsters from their respective drafts.

As we move through the autumn carnivals our leading sire lists are going to chop and change so we thought it was a good time to take a look at the various distance sire tables and the division leaders.

The Australian Studbook have today released official covering statistics for the 2021 breeding season with 34 stallions covering books of 150 mares or more and seven of those covering 200 plus, so who where these super busy guys?

Those impressed with So You See’s eye-catching debut win at Pakenham on Thursday will have the opportunity to buy her three-quarter brother at Karaka in just over a week’s time.

In a week when So You Think quietly passed 100 Australian winners for the season one of his shining lights was progressive five year-old gelding Gentleman Roy , who scored a commanding win at Flemington.

At age six, So You Think flagbearer Think it Over is at the height of his strength and power which was demonstrated to great effect at Randwick on Saturday when he blitzed a quality field in the Group II ATC Apollo Stakes (1400m).

Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

If ever a horse deserved to win a stakes race it’s seven year-old gelding So You Win, who has been a regular fixture in the Chris Waller stable for his whole career and scored his first Black Type victory in the Listed ATC January Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Peters Investments and Grant and Alana Williams show rolled on without Willie Pike in the Group II Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on New Year's Day.

On a day when So You Think sired four metropolitan winners across Sydney and Melbourne, his star performer was undoubtedly this three year-old filly who is definitely going places.

A homebred for Bob and Sandra Peters, five year-old So You Think gelding Midnight Blue posted his first Black Type success on Saturday when surging clear to win the Listed WATC Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) in Perth.