Images courtesy of Dan Himbrechts of AAP Photos
Derby victories are nothing new for the connections of Quick Thinker, but Saturday’s G1 Bentley Australian Derby at Randwick was something out of the ordinary.
A graduate of the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales, the Australian-bred colt was purchased by De Burgh Equine for $100,000 after being offered by Coolmore Australia.
Ridden by Opie Bosson, he backed up from a win in last weekend’s G2 Tulloch S. and went to a new level over 2400 metres.
He out-toughed and out-stayed a star-studded field, edging Zebrowski (NZ) (Savabeel) by a short head in a desperate finish.
Quick Thinker became the fifth Australian Derby winner for New Zealand Hall of Fame trainer Murray Baker, bringing him level with the legendary Bart Cummings. The only trainer with more Derby victories is nine-time winner TJ Smith.
But Baker and his training partner Andrew Forsman were both forced to watch Saturday’s triumph from the other side of the Tasman, stranded at home because of New Zealand’s four-week coronavirus lockdown.
In their absence, Baker’s son Bjorn saddled Quick Thinker at Randwick.
“It’s a phenomenal effort to win the Derby five times,” the younger baker said. “I’m just thrilled for him.
“He and Andrew will be thrilled – they’ll just be disappointed they’re not here. They’re in lockdown in New Zealand, and I think they can’t even have a celebratory drink together.
“He and Andrew will be thrilled – they’ll just be disappointed they’re not here. They’re in lockdown in New Zealand, and I think they can’t even have a celebratory drink together." - Bjorn Baker
“But I know Andrew and Murray haven’t had the best of seasons, so they’ve been hankering to do well here, keen to get a lot of new horses in the stable and have a good go for next season. This is a great result for them.”
Bjorn Baker’s Warwick Farm base has proven to be a huge asset for his father’s annual Sydney autumn carnival raids.
A fast finishing Derby | Image courtesy of Dan Himbrechts of AAP Photos
“Let’s be honest – we know Murray and Andrew’s horses improve lengths when they stay at Warwick Farm,” he joked.
“But it’s very good because our stables are run similarly. It’s all about routine, routine, routine.
“The great thing about Andrew and Murray’s horses is they get a base at home, then they come over here, and once they get to 2400 you know they’re going to be ready.
“The great thing about Andrew and Murray’s horses is they get a base at home, then they come over here, and once they get to 2400 you know they’re going to be ready." - Bjorn Baker
“A few people were even questioning whether this bloke would stay. I said, ‘I’d never underestimate them’.”
Baker’s incredible Australian Derby run began only 12 years ago with Nom du Jeu (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Victories in the famous Sydney classic have come thick and fast since then with Dundeel (NZ) in 2013, Mongolian Khan in 2015 and Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in 2017.
He also finished second last year with Madison County (NZ) (Pins), and he won the Victoria Derby in 2010 with Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home {GB}).
Madison County (NZ)
The majority of Baker’s Australian Derby victories have been shared with Forsman, who joined him in partnership during the 2012-13 season.
Alongside their big-race haul in Australia, the pair have won 740 races and multiple trainers’ premierships in their homeland, as well as two editions of the New Zealand Derby with Mongolian Khan and Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc de Cambes {NZ}).
Another big result for de Burgh
Like Saturday’s Randwick hero Quick Thinker, Vin De Dance carried the colours of prominent syndicator OTI Racing in his hard-fought victory in the 2018 New Zealand Derby. Hubie de Burgh has played a leading role, selecting horses for OTI globally.
“Everyone is looking for a Slipper horse but we wanted one that would be a later type,’’ de Burgh told Inglis from Ireland following Quick Thinker’s victory.
“You never think you’re going to buy a Derby winner but this is fantastic. I’m delighted for Terry, he’s a good friend as well as a client.
“This horse was more of a European-style of horse to look at. He was a very good walker, athletic, well balanced and by a quality stallion and now he’s a Derby winner. Unbelievable.’’
New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance had been purchased for just $70,000 by OTI’s New Zealand bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, and the respected judge also played a role in Quick Thinker’s purchase for $100,000 at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Quick Thinker as a yearling
“It was only just over a month ago that he finished a very average second in a race at Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand," Cataldo told TDN Aus NZ. "To win the Australian Derby only six weeks later is remarkable. All credit to Murray and Andrew, and to Opie for a great ride."
“After Vin De Dance a couple of years ago, it’s great for OTI to share another Derby win with the Baker-Forsman team. It’s also a third one for myself and Terry (Henderson), after we won the Victorian Derby with Kibbutz (NZ) (Golan {Ire}) back in 2007. It’s a huge thrill for all of us.
“It’s a pleasure to work for Terry and OTI. They’re great people, very professional. We put in a lot of hard work, and it’s on days like this that all that work really bears fruit.”
Terry Henderson
Quick Thinker has now had 11 starts for four wins, four placings and $1.01 million in stakes. He won the Listed Champagne S. at Ellerslie as a 2-year-old, then added the G3 Ming Dynasty in Sydney in the spring and placed in the G3 Gloaming S.
His Sydney autumn campaign started with a third in the G2 Phar Lap S., followed by victories in the Tulloch S. and Derby on the last two Saturdays.
There was almost a dream double at Randwick on Saturday for Cataldo, who also purchased the G1 Doncaster runner-up Star Of The Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
“It was nearly a perfect day,” Cataldo said.
“It was nearly a perfect day." - Phil Cataldo
“Quick Thinker was one of 10 horses that Hubie de Burgh had picked out for Terry at the Sydney Easter Sale in 2018. Terry asked me to look at those 10, and Quick Thinker was the one that stood out.
“He went through as Lot 3 and got him for $100,000, which was less than a third of the average for that sale. I think certainly for unders.”
Another Australian Group 1 for Bosson
The Derby was a Group 1-winning reunion for the Baker-Forsman team and jockey Opie Bosson, who rode stable star Mongolian Khan to his victories in the 2015 New Zealand Derby, Australian Derby and Caulfield Cup.
Bosson has now won a total of 77 Group 1 races, nine of them in Australia including three in Sydney this autumn. He won the Surround S. on Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and Chipping Norton S. on Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Saturday’s result was a welcome result to the star New Zealand rider, who is stuck on the opposite side of the Tasman from his wife Emily and young son Max.
Opie Bosson | Image courtesy of Dan Himbrechts of AAP Photos
“Being away from them, it makes things so much better if I get some big winners, but I can’t wait to get home,” he said.
“This horse was just too tough today. Murray Baker is a genius getting his horses ready for this race. He rang me yesterday morning and said the horse is rock-hard fit and he’ll run a huge race.
“He pulled my arms out the whole race. He didn’t come off the bit until we got to about the half mile. He was hard work. I thought we might have done too much in the running, but then the Murray Baker fitness kicked in.”
