The High Chaparral (IRE) stirp enjoyed a day out at Caulfield on Wednesday with two of his sons, Toronado (IRE) and Monaco Consul, having two winner’s apiece, so we will be banking on High Chaparral’s greatest son to keep the roll going at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Melbourne trainer John Sadler has Usain Bowler up on a working holiday with his main mission $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 11.
The 5yo son of So You Think will contest an open looking Ranvet (Bm88) Hcp (1200m) in which he has been burdened with 60kgs.
He has not been sighted since his three and a quarter length romp over 1400m at Caulfield on Blue Sapphire Stakes day on October 16 but by all reports his trainer believes he has never been better.
Usain Bowler is more in the So Si Bon mould of So You Thinks. But unlike So Si Bon who performed credibly in the Classics before finding his niche in sprints, Usain Bowler has never been asked to go further than 1400 metres in his 17-start career to date.
Four of his five wins have been at 1200 metres and he was breaking new ground at his most recent start at Caulfield, which obviously encouraged Sadler to take aim at the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast in preference to the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets over 1200 metres in which he ran fifth last year.
The son of So You Think has made three starts in stakes races without threatening to run a place but two of then came at Group 1 level. Earlier this year he was 11th in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, some five and a half lengths behind the winner Booker and 15th of 22 in the Newmarket Handicap about the same distance behind the winner Sunlight.
A $170,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing out of the Baramul Stud draft at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Usain Bowler has banked $336,125 from a record of 5 wins and 2 thirds from 17 starts.
He is the first foal of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Eileen who is a half-sister to the Group II MVRC Bill Stutt Stutt Stakes winner Barbaricus (Lion Hunter) and the stakes-placed Addendum (Unbridled's Song).
The Danny O’Brien-trained Barbaricus was a major player in just about everything he contested in 2008-09.
He split Theseo and Sirmione in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes and was third behind All the Good (IRE) and Nom du Jeu in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
Eileen’s dam Light Of Erin (Palace Music) is a half-sister to the stakes-winners Spend A Penny and Life On Light from a family that is still very active in Europe.
Light Of Erin’s granddam Irish Manor (Bold Ruler) is one of just four foals produced by the top-class Castle Forbes (Tulyar) who was honoured as the American co-champion 2-year-old filly in 1963 following wins in the Sorority Stakes and Gardenia Stakes. The following year she won the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes and placed in the Coaching Club American Oaks, Beldame Stakes, Gazelle Handicap, Monmouth Oaks and Alabama Hcp.
Despite leaving just four foals she left her mark. They were all by the Champion stallion Bold Ruler and included the 1974 Matron Stakes winner Alpine Lass and the 1969 Hopeful Stakes winner Irish Castle who would find fame as the sire of the 1976 American champion 3-year-old male Bold Forbes who won that year’s Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Wood Memorial.
Now a part of the broodmare band at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud in New Zealand, Eileen had a yearling colt Reliable Man (GB) sell for $110,000 at this year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. She was covered by Reliable Man (GB) again last year.
So You Think continues to churn out the winners and he has had a great start to the season. His six stakes-winners for the term is only bettered by Pierro and Snitzel (both with seven stakes winners) and equal to that of I Am Invincible and Zoustar.
