Tulloch Stakes' winner-Quick Thinker claimed the Gr.1 Australian Derby for New Zealand conditioner Murray Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman. The conditioner a fifth win in the race while fellow Kiwi Opie Bosson was the winning rider.
Quick Thinker raced keenly in the early and middle stages, which left Bosson worried whether the son of So You Think would have enough in reserve in the straight. The Hawkes Racing-trained Zebrowski was brave in second under Hugh Bowman, while Queensland visitor Eric The Eel ran on for third.
Baker’s son Bjorn has looked after Quick Thinker while the 3YO's trainers remain in lockdown in New Zealand. The younger Baker marvelled at his father’s Derby record.
On the same day, Peter and Paul Snowden have claimed their third Gr.1 Sires Produce Stakes' win after King’s Legacy under Hugh Bowman, who notched his fourth win, when he ran down Prague in the 2020 edition of the juvenile event.
A son of Redoute’s Choice, King’s Legacy fetched A$1.4 million as a yearling but guaranteed himself of a future at stud when he over-ran Prague in the last 100m of the $500,000 contest.
Prague, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, is also by Redoute's Choice, purchased for A$1.6 million, has had three wins and a second from six starts.
"He looked pretty good but he had to do a bit of work early and it was probably going to have an impact somewhere," Maher said.
"He is a horse with a lot of upside. He is doing it all on raw ability at the moment.
"He's not the furnished product yet. I think he's got exceptional ability."
John Thompson’s talented colt Mamaragan ran on for third while Ole Kirk finished fourth.
Full Finishing list 2020: 1st Quick Thinker, M. Forsman, O. Bosson, 2nd Zebrowski, M. Hawkes, H. Bowman, 3rd Eric The Eel, S. Kendrick, N. Rawiller, 4th Shadow Hero, M. Newnham, J. Parr, 5th Sacramento, G. Bott, A. Hyeronimus,6th Warning, A. Freedman, T. Berry, 7th Chains Of Honour, G. Ryan, R. Dolan, 8th Sherwood Forest, T. Pike, K. McEvoy, 9th Castelvecchio, R. Litt, J. McDonald, 10th Skiddaw, D. O'Brien, B. Avdulla, 11th Diasonic, R. Laming, T. Clark
Race Info: Distance: 2,400 meters (~1 1⁄2 miles), Surface: Turf, Track: Right-handed, Qualification: 3YO, Weight: Set Weights, Colts, and geldings – 56 1⁄2 kg, fillies – 54 1⁄2 kg, Purse: A$1,000,000 (2020), Bonuses Exempt from the ballot in Queen Elizabeth Stakes