Queensland bred and sold Quick Thinker added a classic success to his growing resume with a hard fought win in Saturday’s Gr1 Australian Derby run over 2400m at Randwick.
In a near replica finish to the recent Gr2 Tulloch Stakes, Quick Thinker ground down a brave Zebrowski to win the blue riband for powerful Cambridge based trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
Opie Basson gets Quick Thinker to hold XX (Pic – Magic Millions / Bradley Photgraphy)
A son of former superstar galloper So You Think, Quick Thinker found enough over the concluding stages under the urgings of kiwi jockey Opie Bosson.
“Murray Baker is a genius at getting his horses ready for this race,” Bosson said. “He rang me yesterday morning and said the horse is rock hard fit and he’ll run a huge race.”
“To be honest he pulled my arms out the whole race – then he came off the bit at about the half mile.”
“I thought maybe we’d done too much in running but that Murray Baker fitness kicked in.”
Bosson said the Derby win was welcomed considering the time he’s having to spend away from his family due to the COVID-19 travel and quarantine restrictions.
The win was the fourth Australian Derby for co-trainer Murray Baker (and second with training partner Andrew Forsman) and he said he would “have a beer” to celebrate while he remains in “eerie” lockdown in New Zealand.
Baker told reporters he would speak to part owner Terry Henderson of OTI Racing to see whether the three-year-old could run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
While the performances of Quick Thinker and Zebrowski were impressive, Queensland visitor Eric the Eel lost no fans with his closing third. He was also backing up in seven days – but also had a float trip from Brisbane to Sydney thrown in as well.
Quick Thinker, bred by Andrew Bowcock in Queensland, was sold to leading Sydney based bloodstock agent James Bester for A$180,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale where we was a member of the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft.
As well as Quick Thinker, dam Acouplamas has also produced the Flemington 2YO winner and 3YO group performer The August.
Acouplamas, who hails from the family of Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars, won two races and earned black type when second to Devoirs in the listed Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Bowcock purchased Acouplamas for A$115,000 at the 2013 National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast when offered by Widden Stud.
Last year her Zoustar colt was purchased for A$1.075 million by Yulong Investments in partnership with RIFA Mustang.
This year’s edition of the National Weanling Sale is provisionally scheduled for 20-24 July, with entries due to close on 8 May.
- Winner: Quick Thinker
- Breeding: So You Think-Acouplamas (Al Maher)
- Race: ATC Australian Derby Gr1 (2400m)
- Sold for: A$180,000
- Sale: 2017 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
- Vendor: Holbrook Thoroughbreds (As Agent)
- Buyer: James Bester Bloodstock
- Earnings: A$872,728
- Owner(s): OTI Racing (Mgrs: T Henderson & S Driscoll), D Honiss, J Boyd, A Boyd, L Webb, Ms D McKeown, Ms M Webb, C Hall, J Gleeson, M Gleeson, P Goodwin, R Koch, J Williams, J Spence, J & Mrs D Gurrieri, Sibling Rivalry, Maverick Racing, Centsless Synd & Cross Tasman Synd
- Trainer(s): Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman (Cambridge)
