One to Watch – Ballarat

Tara Madgwick - Thursday October 5
Champion racehorse and leading young sire So You Think had several runners in last year’s Victoria Derby and this impressive maiden winner at Ballarat on Thursday could easily follow in their footsteps.

Prepared by the powerful Hayes/ Dabernig partnership, three year-old So You Think gelding Woulda Thought So was a good second on debut last month over 1200 metres.

Woulda Thought SoStepped up to 1400 metres for this assignment, Woulda Thought So settled at the rear and was a long way back when turning for home.

Angled into the clear out wide by Regan Bayliss, Woulda Thought So gradually worked into top gear and powered to the line to win by a short neck.

It was an eye-catching win for a horse nominated for the Victoria Derby and will have punters following him next start in better company.

A $170,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mark Pilkington Management from the draft of Davali Thoroughbreds, Woulda Thought So is the sixth winner for stakes-placed Isle of Gibraltar, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to European Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar.

So You Think has been in good form of late with his rising star staying filly Coral Coast finishing third against the colts in the Group III ATC Gloaming Stakes and So Si Bon, who finished fourth in the Victoria Derby last year, grabbing third in the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last Sunday.




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