$1million for So You Think Mare Banana Queen

A homebred for Arcella Thoroughbreds, talented mare Banana Queen (5m So You Think x Tropicana Lady, by Fastnet Rock) has been a favourite of the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable working through her grades over the past three seasons before winning the Group III Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle last year to cap her appeal as a broodmare prospect.

The daughter of So You Think attracted keen competition at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale before being secured by Nick Wakim’s Hilldene Farm for $1million and is set to race on in the short term at least following her good first up fifth in the Group III Hawkesbury Crown last Saturday.

Banana Queen has the overall record of five wins and four placings from 19 starts with prizemoney just shy of $400,000.

She is a three-quarter sister to Group III placed Vanuatu and is the best of six winners from six foals to race from unraced Fastnet Rock mare Tropicana Lady, a full sister to Group I winner Irish Lights, the dam of Group II winner Omei Sword, stakes-winners Lipizzaner and Just Steel, who ran in last week’s Kentucky Derby.

Tropicana Lady is now in foal to Home Affairs.