Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
So You Are too tough in the Bendigo Cup
The talented and tough stayer So You Are (So You Think {NZ}) deserves a spot in the G1 Melbourne Cup, and he should now go at least very close to earning his way into the big one next Tuesday after a tough, tenacious effort in the G3 Bendigo Cup under Rachel King, continuing her outstanding association with Bjorn Baker this spring.
So You Are has now won his fourth consecutive black-type staying race for the Bjorn Baker stable, following victories in the Listed Tattersall’s Cup, G3 Colin Stephen Handicap and G3 St Leger. He has already received two penalties but still sat outside the mark needed for a Melbourne Cup start, so another penalty could see him secure that coveted spot.
As is often the case, The Euphrates (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took the initiative and went straight to the front, while King slotted So You Are straight into the trail and the classy stayer Litzdeel (Dundeel {NZ}) settled in second.
The well-backed Kings Valley (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) was caught wide without cover just behind the pace, and Ethan Brown allowed him to roll forward to eventually sit in second. That gave Litzdeel the coveted one-one position behind a good, genuine tempo.
All the favoured runners were close up, and at the top of the straight, So You Are peeled out from behind the tiring leader and took over at the 300-metre mark. With his customary low head carriage, he kept grinding away solidly to score by three-quarters of a length without ever really looking threatened.
Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) ran on resolutely for second, while Litzdeel battled on well for third, half a length behind the runner-up. Kings Valley was honest again after a busy campaign.
When asked whether So You Are had done enough to gain a start in the Cup, Bjorn Baker stable racing manager Luke Hilton commented:
“He can’t do any more. It’s been a bit frustrating. He’s done everything he can, the horse, he deserved to be there and hopefully that’s enough to get him in.
“He (So You Are) can’t do any more, it’s been a bit frustrating. He’s done everything he can, the horse, he deserved to be there and hopefully that’s enough to get him in.” - Luke Hilton
“He has had a great campaign. He’s just got better and better each time. He relaxed beautifully today, gates are a big help. He was able to get a good run in the race and Rach put him into the race when she was ready to go and he was tough.
“We thought he may get in after winning the St Leger, but he needed a few more points. We had a look at the Moonee Valley Cup and Bjorn and Mr Ramsay put their heads together and came up with this plan today and it’s come off. Let’s hope it’s enough.”
Winning jockey Rachel King was pleased with the way the race unfolded and credited the gelding’s toughness.
“It went perfectly, a nice gate obviously helps, but he had a couple of runs in Melbourne and probably not run up to standard before so it was good to see him get it done the other way around.
“He’s just a horse in really good form. He’s tough, he puts himself on speed, he makes life easy and he doesn’t want to let one get past him.
“He’s (So You Are) just a horse in really good form. He’s tough, he puts himself on speed, he makes life easy and he doesn’t want to let one get past him.” - Rachel King
“Fingers crossed they’re nice to us now and let us in.”
Sales info: So You Are was passed in as a yearling and is raced by his breeders Ramsey Pastoral.
Pedigree info: So You Are is the third foal of Tornado Gal (Hard Spun {USA}) who died in 2023. She has produced three winners in total, with Stormageddon (So You Think {NZ}) being a five-time winner and has twice run fourth at Listed level in Western Australia.
Tornado Gal won four times, up to 1800 metres, and is a daughter of G3 Queen's Cup victrix Sky Trist (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) who also produced Listed Tasmania Derby winner Skyt (Nicconi). This is the family of the immortal Northern Dancer (Can) whose dam Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer (USA) is So You Are’s sixth dam.
Horologist runs up to his pedigree at Warwick Farm
The beautifully bred Horologist (Written Tycoon) showed a glimpse of his promise as a winter 2-year-old, placing twice at metropolitan level at Canterbury. Given a spell, he has returned as a 3-year-old with a bang, producing an authoritative first-up win under Sam Clipperton at Warwick Farm for trainer Chris Waller, Coolmore and partners.
The $1.8 million yearling purchase settled well back in the field off a strong tempo over 1400 metres, as My Ju Ju (Turffontein) continued to kick near the rail to hold the lead. Master Chief (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) and Nevada Falls (Snitzel) were working overtime a little wider on the pace.
Meanwhile, race favourite Quarterback (NZ) (Super Seth) enjoyed a nice run just behind the speed, with Ligularia (TooDarn Hot {GB}) on his outer.
On straightening, the leaders were showing signs of duress, and James McDonald was searching for a run on Quarterback, but it simply did not come. In the meantime, Clipperton launched a searching run on the outside in clear air and scored by a widening margin of just over a length and a half.
Master Chief kept finding for second, while Snitzel A’La Rouge (Snitzel) ran on for third through the middle of the pack.
Stable representative Darren Beadman was pleased and relieved to see the well-bred colt clear maiden company.
“He's part of the colt syndicate with Coolmore and he's out of a very well-bred mare and I just loved the way that he just put them away with such ease.
“Getting back on top of the ground, I think was the key to him, even though it's probably a soft five, but I think it's a pretty good surface for all competitors today. It was nice to tick that box and get him on the board.”
Having ridden the colt once before, when he placed at Canterbury as a two-year-old, Clipperton felt he had filled out and developed since then.
“He's got that first preparation out of the way where he was racing well, but just probably needed a bit of seasoning,” said Clipperton.
“He's (Horologist) got that first preparation out of the way where he was racing well, but just probably needed a bit of seasoning.” - Sam Clipperton
“He's come back a more mature horse. He's had two good trials into today.”
“First up, 1400, he was well-primed. He turned up and put in a good performance. He's a nice horse going forward.
“He certainly filled out a lot. He's a big, strong colt and that day when I rode him at Canterbury it was a heavy nine, and you could see him, or could feel him trying to quicken. He just kept dipping and diving, and the wheel spun.
“So on a beautiful surface today, he was really effective, and he won as he liked.”
Sam Clipperton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Horologist sold for $1,800,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Tom Magnier being the successful purchaser from the draft of Yulong.
Pedigree info: Horologist is the third foal from the super talented Time Thief filly In Her Time who won just over $3.7 million on the track including the G1 Lightning Stakes, G2 Breeders Classic, G2 Millie Fox Stakes and the Listed Sydney Stakes.
After her outstanding racing career, In Her Time sold at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale fetching $2.2 million to the bid of Yulong Investments Australia. In Her Time over the last few seasons has produced a 2-year-old filly by Yulong Stud’s young sire Diatonic (Jpn), a yearling Pierata colt and earlier this month she foaled a First Settler colt.
Further back in the family features the Coolmore young stallion and The Everest victor in Yes Yes Yes.
Local Hydro Rush too strong in front
It was a win for the locals in Race 2 at Bendigo on Cup Day, following local success in Race 1 with Running Rich (Rich Enuff), as the progressive Hydro Rush (Headwater) led all the way for local trainer Arthur Pace and jockey Damian Lane.
It was a dominant performance from the gelding, who took his career record to an impressive three wins from just four starts. He effectively shared the lead on the inside, with a torrent of pressure early as Nickibi (Nicconi) kept him honest on the outside, while Sound Byte (Microphone) and Purgatorio (Hellbent) settled just behind them.
Hydro Rush was tenacious enough to kick hard at the top of the straight. At about the 300-metre mark, Craig Williams aboard Purgatorio attempted to move behind the leader from the trail and succeeded, albeit after a slight brushing battle with Sound Byte.
However, he could not quite bridge the gap, despite chasing gallantly, and missed by just under half a length. Sound Byte was good in third, another half-length behind, under Logan Bates for trainer Cindy Alderson.
Courtney Pace, daughter of trainer Arthur Pace, was delighted to see their charge score on their home track on Cup Day.
“Awesome. Especially on our home track and on Cup Day especially.
“It was a small field full of tactics, it was probably a bit unusual seeing him that handy in the run, but he handled it really well. What a thrill!”
“It was a small field full of tactics, it was probably a bit unusual seeing him that handy in the run, but he handled it really well. What a thrill!” - Courtney Pace
She also reflected on how the race unfolded and the gelding’s ability to take control from the front.
“I thought there might have been a little bit more speed on, that’s what the map suggested, so seeing him there, there wasn’t really much option for him to do anything else. He didn’t really want to drag back, but I liked the way he controlled the race and kicked on with it. It was tough.”
Asked about the type of horse he is and what he might be capable of achieving, she added:
“He’s a lovely horse, he looks the part but I think he’s got the ability to go on with it.
“He’s a very immature horse when you really stop and have a look at him. He’s still probably six months away. He’s still a colt and he was a little bit cheeky outside today so there might be some improvement, who knows.”
Sales info: Hydro Rush was bred by Mark Minervini alongside a group of other breeders and while he was not sold at auction, he now is raced by his trainer Arthur Pace and Mr P M De Araugo and Mr B J Cannon.
Pedigree info: Hydro Rush is out of the unraced More Than Ready (USA) mare A Little More Love, and she has left three individual winners. She is well-related being a half-sister to the G2 Tulloch Stakes and G3 Doncaster Mile Prelude winner Fast Clip (Snippetson).
It is a strong extended family with the Group 1 winner Sky Cuddle (Snippets) featuring and the classy Group winners Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt), Sky Love (Octagonal {NZ}), Highly Recommended, Violate (Sebring) and Amor Victorious (Caravaggio {USA}).
A Little More Love in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly Our Little Love (Yes Yes Yes) and foaled a colt by Storm Boy in early September.
Flaressence sharp and speedy like mum
It was a small but select field at Eagle Farm for the 3-and 4-year-olds over 1000 metres in a BM70 Handicap, but the promising Flaressence (Home Affairs) showed plenty of zip to lead all the way comfortably and register her second win, adding to the three placings she had already recorded from her five career starts.
Taylor Marshall jumped the Home Affairs filly straight to the front, with Jace McMurray aboard Rewrite (Written Tycoon) sitting close enough on her outer. Urban Lad (Street Boss {USA}) took the trail, while Boss Mode (Encryption) settled in the one-one in the small field.
Little changed throughout, with Marshall cuddling the leader before releasing the brakes at the 300-metre mark and allowing her to run away to score by just under a length.
Urban Lad made good late ground to run third, while Boss Mode was a further length and a half behind in third as he peaked on his run late.
All honours went to the speedy Robert Heathcote-trained filly, who is bred to be fast and is already showing those attributes on the track.
Sales info: Flaressence was purchased for a value $20,000 by Flying Start Syndications and Pinhook Bloodstock International (FBAA) from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Flaressence has a great page, she is out of the classy sprinter Prom Queen (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) who was a nine-time winner and won at Group 3 twice and Listed level twice.
She is well-related being a half-sister to the Listed winner Swiss Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park) who herself is the dam of the Group 3-winning 2-year-old Bella Rosa (Snitzel).
Prom Queen in recent times has produced a 2-year-old colt by Home Affairs, a yearling colt by Proisir and was due to foal to Proisir again this spring.
