Cranbourne horseman Robbie Laing believes the autumn form of his So You Think colt So Si Bon suggests a 2017 Caulfield Cup bid this spring may not be out of reach for the rising four-year-old.
The 2017 Caulfield Cup could be on the cards for So Si Bon who is a son of dual Cox Plate champion So You Think (pictured). Photo: Taron Clarke.
A $250,000 purchase from the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, So Si Bon is a well-bred galloper but has so far failed to really live up to his potential.
From a dozen career starts he has just the one maiden win on the record, but he has performed well in Group 1 class when stepped up in distance.
A fifth in last year’s Caulfield Guineas over a mile saw him beaten under two lengths by the winner Divine Prophet, and that Melbourne Cup Carnival he ran a credible fourth behind Prized Icon at Flemington in the Victoria Derby.
Following that, Laing tested the galloper in open-age company and So Si Bon was far from disgraced when fourth behind English raider Beautiful Romance in the Group 2 Sandown Classic (2400m).
This autumn gone the three-year-old’s best performance produced a third behind Kiwi raider Gingernuts on a Heavy (10) Sydney track in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
The colt was last seen running over the mile and a half at Randwick on April 1 in the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) where he failed to come within 12 lengths of the winner, another New Zealand-trained stayer, Jon Snow.
Laing though is happy to forgive that run and is looking ahead to the big spring riches on offer in Melbourne including possibly the $3.15 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21.
“When you look at his form, it suggests to me – Caulfield Cup,” Laing told Racing Victoria.
“He’s unlucky in the [Victoria] Derby, fourth in the Sandown Classic, not beaten that far, and Beautiful Romance won in Dubai.
“Who Shot Thebarman finished next to him, and Big Orange ran third – who recently won the Ascot Gold Cup.
“He can stay. His third in the Rosehill Guineas was great.
“We’re probably going to start a bit lower and win a race or two, before we get our head in the clouds.”
Over the past 30 years Laing has had three runners in a Caulfield Cup field without success, but the four-year-olds have a gun recent record in the race winning four times in the past seven years.
Laing is looking at the $150,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight on August 12 as the spring kick off for So Si Bon.
From there the horse could have his first elite level test of the new season, returning to the track on September 16 for the $750,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
The last horse to complete the Makybe Diva Stakes – Caulfield Cup double in the same year was Northerly (2002).
To back So Si Bon over the spring at the best racing odds online head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
