Derby Prospect for So You Think

Astute Kiwi trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have a great record in Australia when they bring over classy three year-olds and exciting prospect Quick Thinker (3c So You Think x Acouplamas, by Al Maher) showed he can be a real star this spring with a dominant win in the Group III ATC Ming Dynasty Quality at Rosehill on Saturday.

Second on debut last April, Quick Thinker won the Listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie over 1600 metres at his second start before heading for a spell and was having his first run since then on Saturday.

Connections feared 1400 metres on heavy ground might not be ideal for the son of So You Think, but under a cool ride from Hugh Bowman his class shone through.

Quick Thinker settled back in the field and surged to the line to win by two lengths and has now two of three starts earning over $100,000 and has his sights set on all the major spring goals for staying three year-olds.

“Hughie won this race for us on Lion Tamer a few years ago and he went on to do good things so hopefully this guy can do the same,” co-trainer Andrew Forsman said.

“He looked a little bit in trouble coming to the top of the straight and he had a lot to do but won with authority in the end and I think that’s a sign of a good horse.”

Quick Thinker is majority-owned by OTI Racing and director Terry Henderson was on hand to greet the talented colt after his win.

“I think he might be a special horse,” Henderson said. “He really has impressed all the way through and I know Murray and Andrew had a great opinion of him.

“He just hasn’t put a foot wrong so far. I wouldn’t have thought today would be his day because a wet track over 1400m, I would have thought he needed the 2000m.

“To see him hit the line like that is very exciting.”

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.

Quick Thinker is one of 19 stakes-winners for So You Think, who went close to siring a new Group I winner on Saturday when So Si Bon (6g So You Think x Black Minx, by Lonhro) finished a game second in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

The best son of the late great High Chaparral, So You Think stands at a fee of $38,500 this spring.