New Stakes-Winner for So You Think
Underrated mare Saint Alice (6m So You Think x Rare Delight, by Redoute's Choice) added valuable black type to her blossoming career record when she took out the Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Equine Kaimai Stakes (2000m) in a blanket finish in New Zealand on Saturday.
The Peter and Dawn Williams-prepared six-year-old looks to have come of age in her current campaign with a win at Tauranga over 1600m two starts back followed by a gritty run for third in the Group III Taranaki Cup (1800m) earlier in the month.
In an even field where betting was dominated by Awapuni visitor Manifique ($3.10), Saint Alice ($14.30) and rider Ashvin Goindasamy settled beautifully outside the leader.
Goindasamy pushed the button straightening for home and Saint Alice did best in a thrilling finish to poke her nose in front on the line to take the win.
Dawn Williams had been hoping for a good performance after convincing husband Peter that the mare was a good chance in the event.
“Peter was a little worried as she blew a bit in her work the other day, but I had to remind him she had just worked with Desert Lightning so it was probably to be expected,” Williams said.
“She really is a tough little biddy and she got left a sitting duck a little when she hit the lead.
“She loves a scrap though and she put her head down and wouldn’t give in.
“When Aotea Lad dashed through on the inner I thought she might be done, but that mental toughness kicked in and she fought back again.”
Owned by Barneswood Farm Ltd for Sarah Green & Ger Beemsterboer, Saint Alice was purchased for $220,000 by Beemsterboer from the Jamieson Park draft during Book 1 at Karaka in 2019.
She took her career record to seven wins from 25 starts while she has also been placed seven times including finishing third in the 2023 Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m).
The 56th stakes-winner for So You Think, Saint Alice is the best of three winners from Redoute’s Choice mare Rare Delight, a full sister to stakes-winner Tranquility and half-sister to the dam of Group I winner Booker.