New SW for So You Think

Media Release - Saturday February 24

Underrated So You Think mare Saint Alice added valuable winning black type to her blossoming career record when she took out the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Equine Kaimai Stakes (2000m) in a blanket finish.

The Peter and Dawn Williams-prepared six-year-old looks to have come of age in her current campaign with a win at Tauranga over 1600m two starts back followed by a gritty run for third in the Group III Taranaki Cup (1800m) earlier in the month.

Ashvin Goindasamy drives Saint Alice to victory in the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Equine Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Ashvin Goindasamy drives Saint Alice to victory in the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Equine Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

In an even field where betting was dominated by Awapuni visitor Manifique ($3.10), Saint Alice ($14.30) and rider Ashvin Goindasamy settled beautifully outside leader Roger That with eventual runner-up Langkawi tracking her throughout.

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Goindasamy pushed the button straightening for home as Langkawi moved alongside and they began a tooth and nail struggle for supremacy. Aotea Lad shot through on the inner to join issue and the trio went hammer and tongs before Saint Alice thrust her nose in front on the line to take the win.

Dawn Williams had been hoping for a good performance after convincing husband Peter that the mare was a good chance in the event.

“Peter was a little worried as she blew a bit in her work the other day, but I had to remind him she had just worked with Desert Lightning so it was probably to be expected,” Williams said.

“She really is a tough little biddy and she got left a sitting duck a little when she hit the lead.

“She loves a scrap though and she put her head down and wouldn’t give in.

“When Aotea Lad dashed through on the inner I thought she might be done, but that mental toughness kicked in and she fought back again.”

While the mare has always possessed oodles of ability Williams believes it has taken time for her to strengthen up and show her best.

“They all take time as she was a little frail earlier on,” she said.

“She has looked good this time in and we thought she was very good at New Plymouth on a track that was just too wet for her last time.

“She is hitting her peak now so we have a few things to look forward to over the next couple of months as she does handle cut in the ground and she is still fairly lightly raced.”

Owned by Barneswood Farm Ltd for Sarah Green & Ger Beemsterboer, Saint Alice was purchased for $220,000 by Beemsterboer from the Jamieson Park draft during Book 1 at Karaka in 2019.

She took her career record to seven wins from 25 starts while she has also been placed seven times including finishing third in the 2023 Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m).

The 56th stakes-winner for So You Think, Saint Alice is the best of three winners from Redoute’s Choice mare Rare Delight, a full sister to stakes-winner Tranquility and half-sister to the dam of Group I winner Booker.

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Race Result - Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes LR 2000m

Matamata Track: Good(4) Time: 2:04.12
1
Saint Alice
- 6m So You Think (NZ) x Rare Delight (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: P & D Williams Rdr: A C Goindasamy 55.5
2
0.1
Langkawi
- 8g Helmet (AUS) x Shortblackmini (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: D J Danis 54.5
3
0.6
Aotea Lad
- 7g Savabeel (AUS) x Corsage (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 58.5
4
0.9
Arby
- 4g Proisir (AUS) x Reiveke (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: S R Weatherley 55
5
1
Roger That
- 11g Shinko King (IRE) x Heather Lyn (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: A D Fuller Rdr: L H Satherley 57.5
6
1.4
Contribute
- 6m Contributer (IRE) x Contrada (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: C H Butler 57
7
1.5
Terra Mitica
- 5m Ulysses (IRE) x Mississippi Delta (USA) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: W B Kennedy 58
8
1.9
Accidental Tourist
- 4g Telperion (AUS) x Megara (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: Billy Jacobson 54
9
2.1
Manifique
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: M J Mc Nab 53.5
10
2.4
Kelly Coe
- 6m Proisir (AUS) x Floridita (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: A J Meadows Rdr: K A Myers 59
11
3.4
Bad 'n' Bouj
- 7m Deep Field (AUS) x Tabliope (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: S C Spratt 53
12
3.9
Ocean Billy
- 8g Ocean Park (NZ) x Cool Storm (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: W K Pomare Rdr: J J Fawcett 57
13
6.4
Our Jumala
- 5m Zed (NZ) x Baltis (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: C R Barnes 53
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