So You Think Colt Wins G1 Australian Derby

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 4

He might be trained and ridden by Kiwis, but Group I ATC Australian Derby (2400m) hero Quick Thinker is an Aussie bred stayer that showed class and courage to score a tenacious victory in the Blue Riband at Randwick on Saturday.

Advertisement

Quick Thinker wins the Derby - images Bradley Photography

Prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Quick Thinker was too good for Zebrowski (Savabeel) last Saturday when winning the Group II ATC Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and was too good again over the longer trip.



Quick Thinker is too tough for Zebrowski Rock hard fit on a seven day back up, Quick Thinker was strong to the line under Opie Bosson to hold out Zebrowski and win by a head with race favourite Castelvecchio failing to fire and finishing at the rear.

“I’m thrilled for my father and OTI, who have been great clients for the stable,” said Murray Baker’s son Bjorn, who is caretaker trainer with his father and Andrew Forsman under lockdown in New Zealand.

“He’s a laid back customer, but I was confident he was the fittest horse in the race and as it was it worked out that way.”

Running in the OTI Racing colours for a big group of owners, Quick Thinker is the fifth Australian Derby winner for co-trainer Murray Baker and has the tidy record of four wins and four placings from 11 starts with prizemoney in excess of $1million.

Quick Thinker as a yearlingQuick Thinker was a $100,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft for De Burgh Equine and was bred by Bowcock Bloodstock.

He was actually bought as a pinhook by James Bester Bloodstock from the Holbrook draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $180,000 and it’s one of the anomalies of bloodstock that he should be resold for $80,000 less and turn out to be a Group I winner!

The yearling sale was no doubt painful at the time, but James can take consolation now in being vindicated that Quick Thinker is in fact a very good horse.

Coolmore have a stunning draft for Inglis Easter next week and you can see them here.

Quick Thinker is a half-brother to Group III placed The August from stakes-placed Al Maher mare Acouplamas, who comes from the family of Group I classic winners Blackfriars and Larrocha.

Acouplamas has no yearling for the sales this year and was covered last spring by Trapeze Artist.

Quick Thinker is the sixth Group I winner for So You Think, who is having an outstanding run of success this season and has 11 Inglis Easter yearlings and you can see them here..


 

Visit the profile page for So You Think

So You Think in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Bentley Australian Derby Gr1 2400m

Randwick Track: Heavy(8) Time: 2:34.24
1
Quick Thinker
- 3c So You Think (NZ) x Acouplamas (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: O P Bosson 56.5
So You Think
2
0.1
Zebrowski
- 3g Savabeel (AUS) x Polish Princess (GB) (Polish Precedent (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
3
1.4
Eric The Eel
- 3g Olympic Glory (IRE) x Modave (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: S W Kendrick Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
4
7.5
Shadow Hero
- 3g Pierro (AUS) x Sookie (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 56.5
5
8.5
Sacramento
- 3g Pierro (AUS) x Alzora (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56.5
6
9.0
Warning
- 3g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
7
9.3
Chains Of Honour
- 3g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Faint Perfume (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: G A Ryan Rdr: R Dolan 56.5
8
11.3
Sherwood Forest
- 3g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Chasing Mammon (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
9
21.5
Castelvecchio
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x St. Therese (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
10
21.9
Skiddaw
- 3c Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Hidden Message (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
11
40.1
Diasonic
- 3g Reset (AUS) x Heriz (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Laming Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
More Reading...
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.