The
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman training partnership set a new record for the
most victories at stakes level in a New Zealand season when promising colt Quick
Thinker took out the Listed Buffalo & Co Champagne Stakes (1600m) at
Ellerslie on Saturday.
The win by the So You Think colt was the 21st black-type winner for
the season for the Cambridge duo who prepare him for well-known
Australian-based syndicators OTI Racing.
Racing in OTI's familiar gold and black striped colours, Quick Thinker did
plenty of work early in the race to loop the field three-wide before settling
outside the muddling speed set by Ranger.
Rider Matt Cameron had Quick Thinker travelling easily approaching the home
turn before asking for an effort as the field straightened for the run home.
Quick Thinker quickly burst to the front and maintained a solid gallop to the
line to win by a three-quarters of a length at just his second start.
Baker admitted he was keen on the colt's chances prior to the race after he had
taken plenty of benefit out of his debut run for second at Rotorua a week ago.
"He's bred to be a staying horse and we were confident he would go well today
at the mile," he said.
"He might be a middle-distance horse in the spring where we might get him to
Melbourne or something like that."
Winning rider Matt Cameron was full of praise for Quick Thinker.
"He's going to be a very, very good
horse," he said.
"The plan wasn't to go forward; it was just to see if he could settle somewhere
and finish off.
"He pulled himself up (to the pace) and then we got a breather across the top
and he was just too strong.
"It's only his second start and his debut was more like a trial.
"The Baker and Forsman polish went on and that's why they have such good
three-year-olds as they burn around as two-year-olds, win these stakes races
and then when they come out at three everything is so easy for them."
Quick Thinker was a $100,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft for
De Burgh Equine and was bred by Bowcock Bloodstock. He is a half-brother to Group
III placed The August from stakes-placed Al Maher mare Acouplamas, who comes
from the family of Group I classic winners Blackfriars and Larrocha.
He is the 17th stakes-winner for So You Think, who stands at a fee
of $38,500 at Coolmore this spring.