Bright Future for So You Think 3YO’s

So You Think had a couple of eye-catching three year-old maiden winners at Warwick Farm on Wednesday that hold the promise of stakes potential.

A savvy purchase from the NZB Ready to Run Sale, the Chris Waller trained colt Pungo (3c So You Think x Uzayli, by Lonhro) was a short priced favourite and duly scored a dominant win at just his second start.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Pungo (pictured) improved off a nice debut fifth two weeks ago, working forward to lead and galloping clear to win the 1400m maiden by three lengths.

“I felt he was the best horse in the race and I knew he’d take good improvement from his first time out as he gave me a really good feel that day and he’s going to improve from today as well,” said Hugh Bowman.

“Come the autumn it would not surprise me at all to see him figuring with the better horses around 2000m. He’s got class and there’s a lot more in store.”

A $180,000 NZB Ready to Run purchase from the KB Bloodstock draft, Pungo is the first foal of Uzayli, a winning half-sister by Lonhro to stakes-winner Turbo Street and to the dam of Group II winner Scott Base.

His third dam Terrestial produced Australian Group I winners Outback Prince and Hotel Grand, so there is a bit of depth to his pedigree.

“I’m not sure know that you can say $180,000 is cheap, but I think it’s cheap now compared to what his value will be,” said Chris Waller.

“He’s typical of the breed and has a nice future.”

So You Think made it a race to race double when Mark Newnham unleashed untapped filly Street Gossip (3f So You Think x Wahng Wah, by Casino Prince) to win a very competitive 1200m maiden on debut.

A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the Riversdale Farm draft, Street Gossip was easy in the market, but charged home from last on the turn for Tom Sherry to beat the hot favourite Pereille by a head.

“It’s only the last month that she’s started working better and the penny has dropped as she has been a bit highly strung,” said Tom Sherry.

“Today we thought was an educational run and if she hit the line well we’d step her up in trip and that’s where we would see the best of her, but she relaxed really well and when I gave her a tap down the shoulder coming to the 600m I could feel I had plenty of horse left, so it was just a matter of navigating a path so we could really accelerate.

“She pinned the ears back and hit the line strong, so she can’t do much better than that first up.”

Bred by Wall Street Thoroughbreds, Street Gossip is the first winner for metro winning Casino Prince Wahng Wah, a three-quarter sister to stakes-placed Warranty from the Celebria / Twyla branch of the famed Dancing Show (USA) family that has given us champion sire Redoute’s Choice and a slew of Group winners.

The Celebria branch of the family has been in the news of late thanks to blue-blood Dubawi mare In Italian, who won her second Group I in North America last weekend.

Wahng Wah has two more So You think fillies to follow, a two year-old and a yearling.