So You Think 3YO Wins G2 Wellington Guineas

Breednet - Saturday January 14

Having shown a glimpse of real promise in his first preparation, a bigger and better Cognito announced his arrival among New Zealand’s three-year-old ranks in Saturday’s Group II Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham – aided by an extraordinary ride from Opie Bosson.

Cognito gets the better of Duncan Creek (wide) at the finish of the Gr.2 Life Edition Wellington Guineas (1400m)  Photo Credit: Race Images- Peter Rubery

The son of So You Think began his career in the spring, winning on debut at Taupo before a narrow defeat to star three-year-old Sharp ’N’ Smart at Ruakaka. He spent the rest of his spring at Riccarton, making three starts for a win in the Guineas Trial (1400m), a second in the Group III War Decree Stakes (1600m) and a sixth in the Group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

Scratched from an intended resuming run at Taupo on December 30, Cognito instead took a fresh-up tilt at Saturday’s Wellington Guineas, and he rose to the occasion with the performance of his career so far.

Sent out as favourite following the scratching of pre-post favourite Sharp ’N’ Smart due to a stone bruise, Cognito’s prospects appeared to be getting bleaker with every stride coming down the side of the track. Turning for home, he was way back in third-last and had a wall of horses in front of him.

Opie Bosson was able to duck, weave and somehow find a way through, and Cognito took care of the rest with a scintillating late burst to win by a neck.

“I actually got a beautiful run from the gate along the fence, and I was cruising along, but from about the 600 I was really sweating on the gaps opening up,” Bosson admitted. “Luckily for us, they seemed to open up at the right time.

“He’s a very good horse. I haven’t had a lot to do with him before, but I’ve been riding him in a few gallops of late, and he’s really given me a nice feel. He’s still learning, but he’s a very, very good horse.”

Cognito became the second Wellington Guineas winner in the last three years for Te Akau Racing, who also won the race in 2021 with Need I Say More.

Cognito was bred and sold by Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud.

Bought by David Ellis/Andrew Williams Bloodstock Pty Ltd for $165,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from the Baramul Stud draft, Cognito has now had six starts for three wins and two second placings, with the promise of much more still to come.

Advertisement

Trainer Mark Walker has nominated him for two Group I features in March – the Group I New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa on March 4, along with the Group I Levin Classic (1600m) back at Trentham two weeks later.

“Opie’s shown us many times that he can work miracles, and that was another great ride,” Walker said.

“Full credit to the horse as well.

“We had a little bit of a hiccup that prevented us from running at Taupo first-up, but the owners were very patient and were happy to wait for today. It might have ended up being a blessing in disguise that we brought him here fresh.

“He’s really furnished since the spring, and a big advantage of taking three-year-olds down to Christchurch at that time of the year is that they really grow up mentally with that trip.”

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Cognito is the best of three winners from Lady Primrose, an unraced More Than Ready (USA) daughter of Zabeel stakes-winner Primrose Sands.

So You Think

Cognito is the 47th stakes-winner for So You Think, whose yearlings have sold for up to $650,000 at Magic Millions this week.

Advertisment

Race Result - Life Direct Wellington Guineas Gr2 1400m

Trentham Track: Good(4) Time: 1:22.72
1
Cognito
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Lady Primrose (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: O P Bosson 57
So You Think
2
0.3
Duncan Creek
- 3g Super Easy (NZ) x Classic Blonde (NZ) (King's Chapel (AUS))
Tnr: F P Campbell Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
3
1.1
Missy Moola
- 3f Vadamos (FR) x Modern Lady (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: C Zackey 55
4
1.9
The Racketeer
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Lady Illicit (NZ) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: A C Goindasamy 57
5
2.1
Academy Award
- 3f Star Turn (AUS) x Dubleanny (AUS) (Dubleo (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
6
2.6
Romancing The Moon
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano (NZ))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: C J Grylls 55
7
2.7
Tavernia
- 3f Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Chaparella (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: D Yendall 55
8
2.9
Purrfect Puss
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Miss Purrfection (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun McKay Rdr: Jake Bayliss 55
9
5.4
Pennyweka
- 3f Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Threepence (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: J V Wallace Rdr: V A Colgan 55
10
5.6
Battle Sound
- 3g Belardo (IRE) x Tiff And Co (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: C E Lammas 57
11
6.4
Pepeha
- 3g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Introduction (AUS) (Grey Swallow (IRE))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: J K Riddell 57
12
6.9
Alfriston
- 3g Jukebox (AUS) x Usena (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: C J Wood Rdr: M Hashizume 57
13
7.4
Lycomedes
- 3g Nicconi (AUS) x Pink Diamonds (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: W B Kennedy 57
14
7.9
Kabugee
- 3g Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Kabuki (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: S R Weatherley 57
15
12.9
Strides
- 3c Spieth (NZ) x Vaudesir (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: W F Pinn 57
16
24.9
Jaffa
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Tip Top Lass (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: L R Beckett Rdr: L J Allpress 55
More Reading...
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.
Stars on Show at Caulfield Spring Opener
The 2025 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival officially bursts out of the gates this Saturday with the Stow Storage Caulfield Spring Opener, headlined by the first Group 1 of the season, the $750,000 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 29
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
One to Watch – Gosford
He’s big and beautiful and it looks like the patient approach might be about to pay off for this talented I Am Invincible four year-old who won on debut at Gosford on Friday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!