So You Think Mare Secures Melbourne Cup Start

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 15

So You Think’s talented staying daughter Realm of Flowers won the Group III SAJC Fillies Classic (2500m) on this day last year and 12 months on has become the first horse into the 2021 Melbourne Cup after securing her place with a facile near five length romp in the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Advertisement

Realm of Flowers wins the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes - image Grant Courtney.

Prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Realm of Flowers cme into this race off a last start luckless fifth in the Group I ATC Sydney Cup and confirmed the strength of that form when careering away to win as she pleased with Mark Zahra in the saddle.

"She’s a great mare to train," Anthony Freedman said.

"There are no hiccups with her. She’s very straightforward and she deserves a chance (at the Melbourne Cup) and I’d say, she can get a nice cheque.

"She’ll get a bit of weight relief. I think her rating will be a tick over 100 now so that won’t put her too far up the weights and the race you’d think will be a bit short on certainly the overseas horses."



Mark Zahra had an easy ride on the mare, who has the overall record of five wins and five placings from 17 starts with prizemoney in excess of $500,000.

"Exciting for all the owners with a ticket into the Melbourne Cup," Zahra said.

"She’d be a live chance. She’s a fantastic stayer and she gave me a beautiful ride today. I was a winner a long way out.”

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.

Realm of Flowers was a $180,000 Inglis Easter purchase.

Bred by Des Whybird (Desharon Bloodstock) and Russell Board (Stableboard Bloodstock), Realm of Flowers is the best of three winners from Astral Flower (GB), 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 has a weanling filly by Galileo’s champion son Churchill (IRE) and is back in foal to him again.

Realm of Flowers is the 12th Australian stakes-winner this season for So You Think, who nearly had a stakes double with So You Win narrowly touched out in the Group III BRC JRA Chairman’s Trophy at Doomben.

So You Think has sired 12 Australian stakes-winners this season!

So You Think stands this spring at Coolmore at a fee of $77,000.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Andrew Ramsden LR 2800m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:58.09
1
Realm Of Flowers
- 4m So You Think (NZ) x Astral Flower (GB) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 56
So You Think
2
4.8
Grand Promenade
- 5g Champs Elysees (GB) x Zacchera (GB) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 58.5
3
6.3
Miami Bound
- 4m Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Ben Allen 56
4
6.4
Persan
- 4h Pierro (AUS) x Ofcourseican (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 58
5
9.4
Through Irish Eyes
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Zapurple (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Michael Poy 54
6
11.4
Mohican Heights
- 4g Australia (GB) x Mohican Princess (GB) (Shirley Heights (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L Nolen 58
7
26.4
Lion's Share
- 4m Animal Kingdom (USA) x Merge (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Steven Pateman Rdr: Will Price 56
8
38.4
Constantinople
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x One Moment In Time (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: T Dabernig & B Hayes Rdr: Dean Holland 58.5
9
50.4
Salto Angel
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Jacilo (NZ) (Entrepreneur (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damien Thornton 52
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.