Monday Stakes Double for So You Think

Australia’s busiest sire in 2020, So You Think has been riding the crest of a winning wave and posted his 100th and 101st Australian winners this season on Monday in the shape of two stakes-winners with Good Idea (6g So You Think x Faint Perfume, Shamardal) capturing the Group II SAJC Adelaide Cup (3200m) and Mr Marathon Man (GB) (7g So You Think x Marie des Fleurs, by Smart Strike) scoring a surprise win in the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m).

The Phillip Stokes trained Good Idea is certainly bred to be a fine stayer being from Champion 3YO Filly and two time Group I winner Faint Perfume, so his success in this year’s Adelaide Cup is well justified.

Second in the race last year to quality stayer King of Leogrance (Fr), the six year-old gelding was not be denied this year, charging clear over the concluding stages to win by three and a half lengths in a dominant display.

"I rode this horse in this race last year and ran second to King Of Leogrance and he went super," said winning rider Ben Thompson.

"As soon as I got off him that day, Phillip said 'we'll come back next year and go one better'."

Thompson moved to Brisbane in the middle of last year, but was keen to renew his association with the stayer for this assignment.

"I was confident last year, but Damian Lane cruised past me, but I had a look over at the screen 80 (metres) out today and thought, 'nah he's home'," Thompson said.

"There's nothing better than riding on a big day, in front of a crowd, and riding a winner."

Good Idea was retained to race by Think Big Stud and has the overall record of six wins and eight placings from 36 starts with prizemoney in excess of $470,000.

A half-brother to Group III winner Chains of Honour, he is the best of four winners from Faint Perfume, who won the Group I VRC Oaks and ATC Vinery Stud Stakes.

Good Idea is the 32nd stakes-winner for So You Think, who made it a stakes double on the day when the Richard Litt trained import Mr Marathon Man won the Listed Canberra Cup by a long neck.

Already a stakes-winner in France, Mr Marathon Man has the overall record of six wins and three placings from 40 starts with prizemoney topping $480,000.

Mr Marathon Man is another success story for Inglis Digital sales having been bought by his current owners for $70,000 at the 2020 Inglis Digital July (Early) Sale.

So You Think has had three stakes-winners in the past three days having sired So Si Bon (7g So You Think x Black Minx, by Lonhro) to win the Listed VRC March Stakes on Saturday.