So You Think 2YO Explodes in Listed Champagne

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 17

A masterful front-running ride by Warren Kennedy and powerhouse performance from So You Think colt Do You Just turned Saturday’s Listed Skycity Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie into a one-horse race.

Do You Just winning Saturday’s Listed Skycity Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The pair led for every step of the way in New Zealand’s longest two-year-old race and romped home by six and a half lengths.

Do You Just has always been held in high regard by his Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and after being unplaced in two early-season appearances in November and December, he made a promising return to action in the autumn with a second placing and then a last-start sixth in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Many of that Te Rapa cast headed to Ellerslie for Saturday’s rematch in the Champagne Stakes, and the increased distance put Do You Just in his element.

Advertisement

Kennedy sent the So You Think colt straight to the lead and controlled the race from there, with only an over-racing Wyndstorm for company within the first 400m of the race.

Kennedy began to up the ante down the side of the Ellerslie track, and Do You Just soon shook free of Wyndstorm and pinched a break on the field.

Do You Just kicked again in the straight and went further and further in front, powering away to score one of the most dominant victories of the two-year-old season.

“When I first rode this horse, I put him behind horses and he was very raw and erratic,” Kennedy said. “He’s been over-racing and just hasn’t been using himself the way he should.

“I was happy to go forward and lead today, let him use his action, and he showed what he can do when he extends off that. That was a dominant performance by a horse that still has a lot of improvement to come.

“I think he’s a really smart horse. He’s just got to learn his trade. He’s still very raw and has a few rocks in his head. Once we do a bit more work with him and put some cement there, I think he’ll be very good.”

Do You Just was a $250,000 Karaka Book I purchase.

Do You Just was offered by Carlaw Park in Book 1 of Karaka 2024, where Wexford Stables bought him for $250,000 and he was a successful pinhook having been sourced from the Yarraman Park draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $150,000.

Racing in the distinctive white, blue and green colours of majority owners Waikato Stud, he has now had five starts for a win, a second and $65,275 in stakes.

“Big congratulations to Waikato Stud, who came in with us at the yearling sales and own most of this horse,” O’Sullivan said.

“We’ve actually been surprised that he hadn’t produced any performances like that before today. He’s shown enough at home all season for us to expect him to be very competitive in this sort of company.

“We decided to go forward with him today, get him into a good rhythm, and it was great to see him gallop out so strongly down the straight.”

The ownership group also includes O’Sullivan’s daughter Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle, along with her husband Tom Doyle.

“Mark Chittick is the majority owner, followed by Dad, while Tom and I are the esteemed one-percenters,” O’Sullivan Doyle said. “But it doesn’t really matter what percentage you have – the excitement is the same.

“It was a real thrill today. We’ve always really loved this horse the whole way through, so it’s awesome to see him do it on the track.”

Do You Just is a new SW for So You Think.

Do You Just was foaled and raised at Yarraman for his breeders Chesapeake Thoroughbreds and Newton Thoroughbreds and is the best of four winners from four foals to race from unraced Exceed and Excel mare Estijmaam, who was bought back 2019 at the Mm National Broodmre Sale for $150,000 by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock.

Estijmaam was on-sold last year for $65,000 at MM National Broodmare Sale and her yearling colt by So You Think sold at Magic Millions this year for $125,000 to Jason Warren Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock.

She had a colt by Pinatubo (IRE) last spring and is now in foal to King’s Gambit.

Do You Just is the 61st stakes-winner for So You Think, who is great value this spring at a fee of $44,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Skycity Champagne Stakes LR 1600m

Ellerslie Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:36.89
1
Do You Just
- 2c So You Think (NZ) x Estijmaam (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: W B Kennedy 57.00
So You Think
Inglis Ready2Race Sale $0
Seller: Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone
Buyer:
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $125,000
Seller: Riverstone Lodge, Blandford, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Jason Warren Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)
Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale $150,000
Seller: Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, Eddington
Buyer: Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)
2
6.5
Towering Vision
- 2g Circus Maximus (IRE) x Qiji Vision (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: C J Grylls 57.00
3
7.3
Toretto
- 2g Ardrossan (AUS) x Pwerfect (AUS) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Hollie Wynyard Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 57.00
NZB Karaka Book 1 $100,000
Seller: Elsdon Park
Buyer: Benner Racing Ltd
4
8.1
Rufus
- 2g Circus Maximus (IRE) x Bint Piavonic (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: K A Myers 57.00
5
10.4
Wyndstorm
- 2g Wyndspelle (NZ) x Brambling (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Hollie Wynyard Rdr: R T Elliot 57.00
6
11.2
Luminance
- 2f Time Test (GB) x Brilliant Glow (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: K A Pertab Rdr: T C Moodley 55.00
7
11.3
Savina
- 2f Ace High (AUS) x Hot Pursuit (NZ) (Spartacus (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C R Barnes 55.00
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Evaporate Wins G3 Sandown Stakes
Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose.
Golden Slipper Winner Marhoona Resumes With Heritage Stakes Win
Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.
Proisir 6YO Waitak Captures Another G1
Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record.
So You Think 2YO SW Sold to Hong Kong
A month after his barnstorming stakes victory at Ellerslie, smart juvenile Do You Just has been sold and will continue his racing career in Hong Kong.
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.
Magic Carpet wins G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas - New SW Satono Aladdin
Talented colt Magic Carpet chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400).
G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude Victory To Ferivia
Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Mile ideal for So You Think colt
Do You Just steps up to a more suitable distance at Ellerslie and a bold showing is expected from the colt in his juvenile grand final.
Trapeze Artist Mare Earns Shot at G1 Metrop
The in form Ciaron Maher stable produced the quinella in the$250,000 Group III ATC Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday with race favourite Juja Kibo (GB) beaten by progressive mare Piggyback.