No stallion did more to advance their cause last season than So You Think.
In separating the two most commercial stallions in the land, I Am Invincible and Snitzel, the son of High Chaparral (IRE) forged ahead after coming off a career-best season in 2020/21 when fifth behind Written Tycoon.
So You Think (image Mark Smith)
His stats were similar in 2021/22 except for improving with three Group 1 winners and keeping his championship ambitions alive until the season's final few weeks.
No need to look for So You Think on the 2yo sire table where he is rarely a factor, but he did crack the top fifty for the first time last season.
Coolmore's highly regarded Political Debate led the way, closing out the season with a second in the Group 1 JJ Atkins Plate.
There were several other promising types, including the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Proscenium Arch, the last of her sire's five 2yo winners.
Looking the consummate professional, Proscenium Arch jumped in front and was never headed in a three and three-quarter length romp over 1300m on a heavy track at Sandown-Hillside on July 20.
The daughter of So You Think backs up in a fascinating benchmark 70 over 1410m at Flemington on Saturday.
Bred by Brendan and Jo Lindsay and David Redvers Bloodstock, Proscenium Arch was a $220,000 purchase for Busuttin Racing / Clarke Bloodstock from the Maluka Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
$220,000 Inglis Premier yearling Proscenium Arch has inherited plenty from her sire
She is the first foal of the winning Showcasing (GB) mare Its Our Showtime, a half-sister to Group I winner Inspirational Girl (Reliable Man), stakes-winner Ruetigger (Duporth) and Group III placed Brookspire (Hinchinbrook).
Its Our Showtime was bought by Cambridge Stud/David Redvers/Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $150,000 from the Willow Park draft at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale. She was carrying Proscenium Arch at the time of sale.
The fourth dam of Its Our Showtime is Nouvelle Star, the first horse to race in Australia for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Its Our Showtime
A daughter of Luskin Star, Nouvelle Star bowed out of racing when Brent Thompson guided her to a win over River Rough in the 1984 Group II Linlithgow Stakes. Nouvelle Star spread her influence far and wide after being sent to the northern hemisphere for broodmare duties.
Her daughter Giladah (IRE) (Mill Reef) left the Group II STC Reisling Slipper Trial winner Star Of Nouvelle and the South African Group II winner Double Reef.
Four of Giladah's daughters left stakes winners, including Meine Pretender (Zabeel), the dam of the Japanese star Meine Nouvelle (Brian's Time), who won the Hopeful Stakes in 2002 and is the granddam of the 2021 Japanese Oaks heroine Uberleben.
Giladah's daughter Done That (Centaine) is the dam of Group III MRC Naturalism Stakes winner Rainbow Styling (Zabeel) and Group III ATC Birthday Card stakes winner Zingaling (Redoute's Choice)
Be Inspired could not match the deeds of her brother Rainbow Styling on the track. Still, she left her mark as the dam of Inspirational Girl (Reliable Man), Ruetigger (Duporth) and Brookspire (Hinchinbrook), as well as Its Our Showtime, who has a 2yo colt by Almazor (FR) named Geriatrix, and a weanling colt by Merchant Navy.
