Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous

Media Release - Friday July 11

It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  

Australian-sourced talent has shone brightly among Stephen Marsh’s two-year-olds this season, and that trend could continue when the Cambridge trainer unveils the royally bred Moretothinkabout at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Marsh’s juveniles have combined to record eight wins this season, headed by Listed successes by To Cap It All in the Wellesley Stakes (1100m) and Little Black Dress in the Star Way Stakes (1200m). To Cap It All also finished second in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and third in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).

Both members of that stakes-winning duo came out of the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, where To Cap It All was bought for A$280,000 and Little Black Dress for A$240,000.

Moretothinkabout was a $300,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Yulong.

Another of Marsh’s purchases at that same sale was Moretothinkabout, a blue-blooded son of So You Think and the eight-time Group One winner More Joyous. Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock secured him for A$300,000.

Saturday’s Promote Waipu 2YO (1200m) at Ruakaka marks the raceday debut for Moretothinkabout, who was a smart trial winner at Avondale on June 24.

“He’s a lovely colt,” Marsh said. “He’s trialled up very well. Michael McNab rode him in his trial win and was very keen to stay with him.

“He’s probably going to be better over a bit further than this, but we want to give him one run as a two-year-old before putting him aside for next season.

“He’s beautifully bred and we paid a bit of money for him. It would be great if he could kick his career off with a win on Saturday, but either way, I think he could be a serious three-year-old come the spring and summer.”

Advertisement

Moretothinkabout is part of a three-pronged Ruakaka contingent for Marsh, who will also saddle Mercurial in the Northpine Waipu Cup (1400m) and runaway last-start maiden winner Hakushu in the 2 Aug Bream Bay Business Day (1200m).

Last year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Mercurial was entered for Te Rapa last Saturday, but was scratched on the morning of the race due to the Heavy10 track conditions.

“It was just the amount of rain they got,” Marsh said. “He’s had no luck in that regard – in the 24 hours or so before his races, the tracks have got a massive deluge. So things haven’t quite worked out in his favour lately.

“I thought we’d keep him for this weekend instead and run him over 1400m. He’ll probably need this run, but I reckon he’s going well and can make his presence felt.

“After this, we’ll look at the open 1300m race on Taumarunui Cup Day at Te Rapa in a couple of weeks, then give him a little freshen-up before racing through the spring. We won’t be taking on the Group One horses this time around, but there’s still some very good prizemoney on offer just below that level and he’s shown that he can still be competitive.”

Hakushu is a three-year-old son of I Am Invincible and recorded a second, two fourths and a fifth from his first four starts. The gelding wore blinkers for the first time at Cambridge on June 18 and blitzed his maiden rivals by six and three-quarter lengths.

“He was just a bit immature before that and not quite putting things together,” Marsh said. “The blinkers went on last start and he won very impressively and with great sectionals. His work has been great since then. Hopefully he’ll strike a decent track on Saturday. He should be a nice chance if he does.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Debut 2YO Winner for Brutal
Fresh from siring a smart metro winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Brutalina, Brutal was in the frame at Scone on Friday where Brett Cavanough unleashed a promising two year-old debut winner in Bird Whistle.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bloodstockauction 2025 Stallion Cover Charity Auction
Bloodstockauction Stallion Cover Charity Auction is on again this year seeking to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 11
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.