FLEM OCT 30 - SO YOU THINK STROLLS IN AND RACES INTO RED-HOT CUP FAVOURITISM

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 1, 2010

Flemington, October 30, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 4.58.
Mackinnon Stakes (Group 1) Open WFA - 2000m.
Time: 2-04.92. 600m Sectional: 35.18. (Carrying 58kg).
1 So You Think; 2 Descarado; 3 Ginga Dude.
Margins: 3.8L x 1.5L.

Bart Cummings’ champion four-year-old entire So You Think will take his place in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday on the back of another devastating performance this time in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes over 2000 metres.

One of Cummings’ two pronged attack on the 150th running of the time honoured event, So You Think will start a pronounced favourite on the back of five stunning performances over his spring campaign.

Partnered by regular rider Steven Arnold, So You Think was ridden a touch quieter with a view to getting the multimillion dollar stud prospect to settle for the race that stops a nation on Tuesday.

In appalling conditions and driving rain, the field of Weight for Age gallopers were sent on their way from the 2000 metre mark.

The odds on favourite began well from his wide barrier and Arnold was cautious not to bustle to entire through the early stages of the affair.

So You Think cruised across to set up camp in third position upon settling down, four lengths off the early pacemaker who was Ginga Dude for Michael Walker.

Caulfield Cup winner Descarado trailed the leader in second placing and Arnold had So You Think sitting third outside of Rainbow Styling.

It was only a moderate tempo up front as Michael Walker steadied the leader Ginga Dude beyond the 1400 metres mark.

The Mackinnon field ploughed through the going and fourteen lengths covered the field.

Steven Arnold gave the favourite So You Think a glorious run in transit, giving the Cox Plate champion every opportunity to add to his growing list of Group 1’s.

The field of star gallopers maintained their positions until they commenced the turn for home.

Descarado increased the speed in the event when he and jockey Nash Rawiller loomed up to eyeball Ginga Dude.

Arnold maintained his composure on the hotpot and only flushed out three deep in the early part of the straight. So You Think loomed large outside the two leaders Ginga Dude and Descarado at the 300 metre mark and shortly after raced on by under the urgings of Arnold.

The pair hit the front at the furlong pole and Arnold gave the High Chaparral entire a couple of cuts with the whip and the duo were the shining light in the gloomy conditions over the final 200 metres.

Arnold kept the magnificent looking specimen going over the concluding stages to record and easy victory over Descarado and Ginga Dude back in third.

The win elevated the Cummings trained galloper to the top of Melbourne Cup betting displacing last year’s winner Shocking.

Although Bart Cummings wasn’t on track for the devastating Mackinnon victory, odds are he will be there come Tuesday where he will possible lift his thirteenth Melbourne Cup.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Bart Cummings' Melbourne Foreman Reg Fleming: “He's won rain hail or shine … it doesn't seem to matter to him.

“You like to see them hitting the line really good and today he did that.

“He is the product of just the normal work we do with the stayers. Bart's got a system in place. We follow that and the fruit is in what you've seen today.

“He amazes me this horse. I don't know what he can do.

“I’ve always said Saintly was the best. After Tuesday it might be different.

“He's a good doer and a strong horse. I don't think backing up on Tuesday will be a problem.

“Bart is here in spirit … try and keep him away on Tuesday.”

Jockey Steven Arnold: “It was magic today. I’m just pinching myself.

“I didn't want to restrain him from the stalls and get him cranky early on so I let him stride and flow through the first furlong and then he got a nice rhythm and let a couple go. He just cantered in the run.

“He got a spot and dropped his head. It was good.

“I sort of only wanted go the last two furlongs. In those weight-for-age races they've been making it a bit of a test because he's the best horse.

“Today I just wanted to wait a bit longer. He actually had a look around at the furlong. He's an awesome horse.

“He seems to have pulled up great. He's pulled up super in himself. He was jumping around coming in, so I don't think it's hurt him too much.

“I was little bit concerned about the two miles and probably still am, but that was a real positive today. He relaxed so well and was so strong late.

“I would prefer sort of dead ground on Tuesday, so that he can use his turn of foot. You know with these really good horses … a little bit hard … a little bit soft … he just wins all the time.

“He just makes his own luck. Hopefully he can do the same on Tuesday.

“He’ll be good combination with anybody. He does all the work. I just sit on him and look good.”

Duncan Ramage (Racing Manager for owner Dato Tan Chin Nam): “We have to be very happy with that.

“It was quite a soft win really. He sat well. He relaxed. Steven (Arnold) waited to take his run and, when he did, he produced, you know.

“He can accelerate wherever he is in the field. That was a very authoritative win again and I think it is going to put him in good stead for the big one on Tuesday.

“Obviously you would prefer that it (the going) is not too heavy on Cup day, but today it was not an issue.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (So You Think): 1.65 out to 1.70 into 1.60.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
S Arnold rider of So You Think (NZ) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137a, the careless riding being that near the 1800m he shifted in when insufficiently clear of Red Colossus resulting in tightening to C’est La Guerre (NZ) which in turn caused crowding to Kidnapped and Shoot Out to a point where Metal Bender (NZ) got severely crowded and had to be checked.

S Arnold had his licence in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight November 2 and to expire at midnight November 12, a total of eleven meetings (three city, eight country).

In assessing penalty Stewards took into account S Arnold’s guilty plea and good record and that the careless riding was in the high range.
C’est La Guerre raced wide without cover throughout.

A post race veterinary examination of C’est La Guerre revealed the gelding to have a heart irregularity and the stable was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness is required together with the satisfactory results of an ECG prior to the gelding racing again.

After the running of the race the Club’s veterinary surgeon reported that Metal Bender (NZ) bled from both nostrils and will now incur the mandatory three month suspension from racing.

The track was downgraded from Dead 4 to Slow 6 at 2.16pm after the running of this race.

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