By Bren O'Brien
Having built a reputation as a true equine enigma over much of his 38-start career, So Si Bon's (So You Think {NZ}) upset success in Saturday's G3 Aurie's Star S. at Flemington has co-trainer David Hayes contemplating spring Group 1 goals for the 'reformed' 6-year-old.
So Si Bon's third win, and second at stakes level, may have surprised many, but not Hayes, whose Lindsay Park operation paid up the early entry fee for the G1 Cox Plate for him this week.
"We took a fresh approach and coming into the race we were quietly confident but on the day I was worried that the winter form might hold up on the heavy track," he said. "However, he went through it and was fantastic."
"We'll probably head towards the (G1) Rupert Clarke S. and the Toorak Hcp. They are the main aims."
So Si Bon after his win in the G3 Aurie's Star S.
To get a sense of So Si Bon's reputation, you only have to look at the list of gear changes that Lindsay Park and his previous trainer Robbie Laing have tried with him. It reads like a rap sheet for a petty criminal, but Hayes always knew the talent was there and it was the 'ultimate' gear change which has straightened him out.
"If you put a line through his form from the time he was gelded until now, he's got pretty good form," Hayes, who last won this race with Niconero (Danzero) in 2005, said.
"If you put a line through his form from the time he was gelded until now, he's got pretty good form." - David Hayes
The Aurie's Star win was his 17th start for Hayes and his 13th since being gelded. He broke an 831-day losing drought when he won the Listed Lord S. on Boxing Day last year, which was the day that Luke Nolen got aboard him.
Nolen was aboard again on Saturday as he took his record on him to two wins and a second from four starts.
"He's a pleasure to do anything with, since they gelded him those quirks he once had aren't there anymore," Nolen said after the win.
"He's just a happy horse and we've been the beneficiary of that."
"He is starting to put together a profile fitting of a horse that he always promised to be, but four years into the journey."
"Horses don't lose ability, you've got to find a way to extract it out of them in a different way and I think we've done that."
"Horses don't lose ability, you've got to find a way to extract it out of them in a different way and I think we've done that." - Luke Nolen
So Si Bon further franked his stakes credentials in the autumn when he ran second in the G2 Blamey S and fourth in G1 Australian Cup, and has performed well down the Flemington straight before, so a win in what wasn't the strongest Group 3 sprint wasn't a total surprise.
He was given a great ride by Nolen just off the pace and he set out after Malibu Style (Magnus) at the 200m mark, getting the upper hand and winning by a length.
Jockey Damian Lane was more than satisfied with the performance of Malibu Style, who had won the Listed All Victorian Sprint over the same track and distance five weeks ago.
"It's not easy running into that wind today but he was really tough but it's just a shame the leader (You Make Me Smile) didn't take him 50 metres into the race further," Lane said.
Sesar came home for third after being caught out the back early
The well-backed Sesar (Sebring) got caught out the back early and while he charged home to nab third, was never a serious winning chance, beaten nearly four lengths.
"He had to weave through traffic and charged late so it's great to see the horse hit the line and give us something to work with," jockey Dwayne Dunn said.
