So You Think 3YO Wins G2 Avondale Guineas
Visiting Australian raider Thedoctoroflove (3g So You Think x Liberty Lady, by Rebel Raider) sounded an ominous warning to his Kiwi rivals heading towards the Group I Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with a stunning victory in Saturday’s Group II Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie.
Prepared by expat Kiwis Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the gelded son of champion galloper So You Think only arrived in New Zealand last Friday, but showed no effects of that travel as he capitalised on a magical ride by Daniel Moor to close off powerfully in the final 150m and claim a narrow but comprehensive victory.
With both Busuttin and Young still at home in Australia and travelling stable representative Brendan Hawtin not on track due to illness, it was left to Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie to speak on behalf of the winner as he has had the horse staying at his Cambridge property.
Ritchie made light of that situation as he and training partner Colm Murray prepare New Zealand Derby second elect Tuxedo and had chosen to bypass Saturday’s contest with their charge.
“Geez we can improve them can’t we and I hope Trent is listening to this as he is going to have to find another box for him, because he’s not staying with us,” said Ritchie with tongue firmly in cheek.
“He was impressive today and these Aussie riders are good as he (Moor) got him into the one-one from looking like getting caught wide and he has attacked the line hard.
“They do know how to find the right horse, do Trent and Natalie. They had one that sat three wide a few years ago and ran second in the Derby.
“We gave him a little bit of work on Tuesday morning and it was lovely gallop. He is very laid-back. He is in superb order, his coat is great and he will improve from here, which is a warning for us all.”
Ritchie was referring to Rising Red, who finished in the runner-up position in the 2017 New Zealand Derby behind Gingernuts.
Moor was suitably impressed although thankful he got the win after his mount didn’t really handle going the right-handed way around for the first time.
“He showed me he could race closer, which is very handy, as he began so well but didn’t really go right-handed,” he said. “Around every bend he was all over the place. He took a bit of riding and will benefit from that experience.
“He is a pretty cool customer although he was a little on edge, but he raced forward and was impressive at the end.”
The victory of Thedoctoroflove and the relative failure of the pre-post New Zealand Derby favourites Willydoit (10th) and Hinekaha (11th) has seen the Fixed Odds market for the Group One feature on 8 March turned upside down, with Thedoctoroflove and Willydoit now both sitting at a $4 quote .
Bred by the Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, Thedoctoroflove was a $220,000 Magic Millions purchase from Mill Park by Busuttin Racing/Andrew Campbell and has two wins and two placings from five starts with earnings topping $237,000.
Leading South Australian nursery Mill Park Stud have a great record for producing classic three year-olds including the 2024 Group I VRC Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru and Thedoctoroflove certainly fits the profile of success.
He is the first foal of Liberty Lover, a metro winning half-sister by dual Derby winner Rebel Raider to Group II winner and $3.5million earner Dalasan and stakes-winner Party Princess, who is also by So You Think.
Thedoctoroflove is the 60th stakes-winner for So You Think, who has 33 entries for Ingis Easter and 15 for Inglis Premier starting next Sunday.