There was steward’s room drama after the finish of the Listed MRC Sandown Cup (3200m) on Saturday with runner-up Realm of Flowers lodging a protest against first past the post Carif, but whatever the outcome, So You Think was always going to have the winner of the race!
A close last start fifth in the Group III Hotham Stakes (2500m) at Flemington, the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Carif missed out on a Melbourne Cup start, but proved his prowess over the two mile trip when holding off Realm of Flowers to score his first stakes win for Jamie Kah.
“It wasn’t the two mile race we were after, although it’s good to see him win,” said Peter Snowden.
“Jamie rode him a treat and gave him a ten out of ten ride.”
A homebred for Think Big Stud, who raced both his sire So You Think and his dam Norzita, Carif has the overall record of three wins and nine placings from 28 starts with prizemoney in excess of $560,000.
The success of Carif today was bittersweet as Arrowfield Stud announced the loss of his dam Norzita at the stud this morning via Twitter.
A two time Group I winner by Thorn Park, Norzita was originally a $200,000 Karaka purchase for DGR Thoroughbreds and was later bought by Freyer Bloodstock for $1.7million at the 2019 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
She had a Snitzel yearling filly for them last year and produced a filly this spring by the Autumn Sun.
Carif is the 30th stakes-winner for So You Think, who stands this spring at Coolmore at a fee of $38,500.