So You Think Filly Wins G3 Fillies Classic
Talented staying filly Realm of Flowers (3f So You Think x Astral Flower, by Kalanisi) was a short priced favourite for the Group III SAJC Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday and duly saluted in good style.
Prepared by Anthony Freedman, Realm of Flowers has been well placed working through the grades and a decision to bypass the Group I SAJC Schweppes Oaks in favour of this longer assignment proved a good one.
She travelled well in the run for Damien Thornton and was strong to the line beating stakes-winner Silent Sovereign by three-quarters of a length.
“I’ve won three on her now and she still feels untapped,” said Thornton.
“She’s a really nice filly.”
A $180,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Arrowfield draft for renowned bloodstock agent James Bester, who has a share in the ownership, Realm of Flowers runs for a syndicate that also includes Kia Ora and Robert McClure, who raced multiple Group I winning filly Yosei, who carried the same colours as this filly.
With four wins and two placings from seven starts earning prizemoney in excess of $130,000, Realm of Flowers is a staying prospect of considerable promise for next season.
Bred by Des Whybird (Desharon Bloodstock) and Russell Board (Stableboard Bloodstock), Realm of Flowers is the third winner from three to race from Astral Flower, a half-sister by Kalanisi to Group I winner and sire Redwood, who is by So You Think’s sire High Chaparral.
Astral Flower is a grand-daughter of French Oaks winner Jolypha, a full sister to Champion 3YO and European Horse of the Year Dancing Brave, so this is a pedigree steeped in world class classic stamina.
Astral Flower was covered last season by Galileo’s champion son Churchill.
Realm of Flowers is the 25th stakes-winner for So You Think and is his ninth Australian stakes-winner this season. The 10 time Group I winning champion stands at a fee of $38,500.