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Promising stayer So You Are has catapulted into contention for some of Australia’s biggest spring staying features after the Bjorn Baker-trained favourite produced a tough on-pace performance to win Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill.
Starting the well-backed $2.15 favourite, the five-year-old son of So You Think continued his rise through the staying ranks, holding off a determined challenge from Amplify ($7) to score by a half-neck, with Bella Montagna ($3) a further length away in third. The 2026 Colin Stephen Quality winner stopped the clock at 2:28.95 with a final 600m of 35.25 seconds.
The victory added another valuable black-type success to an already impressive campaign for the consistent gelding, who had previously captured the Listed Drinkwise Cup (2400m) at Randwick and placed in a host of staying features throughout Queensland and New South Wales.
Baker was quick to highlight the significance of the Colin Stephen, noting the quality of horses that have won the famous race throughout its history.
“There have been some amazing winners of this race,” Baker told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“We’ve had Phar Lap, Carbine, Pontiac Lass and Wakeful. Murray won it with Pontiac Lass. Even when I was a child, that was a long time ago.”
Baker revealed the gelding had endured a minor setback leading into Saturday’s assignment and was pleased to see him deliver despite not enjoying a perfect preparation.
“He had a little bit of a setback last week. The race didn’t work out perfectly, but it’s great to see those Ramsey colours in front,” he said.
“I thought it was a bigger margin than it looked. He didn’t have it all going his own way.”
The Warwick Farm trainer now has loftier targets in mind and suggested the improving stayer remains well ahead of the handicapper.
“Obviously we want to get down to Melbourne for the Cups,” he said.
“Handicappers, I hope you are watching. There’s heaps of improvement with him. Give him half a kilo or one kilo or something.”
While a start in the Group 1 $6.55 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 may be difficult to secure at this stage, Baker flagged a number of options as the spring progresses.
“Obviously the Caulfield Cup, he will be flat getting into that. We might look at the St Leger, that could be a good race for him here and then maybe down to Melbourne,” he said.
“It depends where he is in the order and the scheme of things as well.”
The Group 3 $500,000 ATC St Leger (2600m) runs in Sydney at Royal Randwick on October 17, the same day Melbourne hosts the Caulfield Cup.
Prior to the Colin Stephen Quality 2026 results, So You Are was sitting well down the latest 2026 Caulfield Cup order of entry following Tuesday’s first acceptances in 37th spot with just 51kg.
As such, he has actually eased out from $34 to $51 in the all-in Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.
Winning jockey Rachel King believes the gelding is still learning his craft and is improving with every start as a stayer.
“I wasn’t too upset when that other horse wanted to go. He probably relaxed a bit better again today,” she said.
“He’s a funny horse. He keeps giving more and more and he’s learning his racecraft more and more.”
King explained that So You Are’s natural staying strength is helping him develop into a genuine Group performer.
“From the 1000m to the 800m he suddenly picks up the bridle, which is a good thing. He puts himself into the race.
“He needs them running 35s for him to be able to stay on top and he can create that pressure himself.”
Even when placed under pressure approaching the home turn, King was confident the gelding would fight on strongly.
“That’s him, he’s tough. He’s a horse who really responds when the pressure comes on.”
The runner-up Amplify lost no admirers in defeat with jockey Zac Lloyd praising the mare’s latest effort.
“She has gone fantastic. She’s improved stronger with every start. She just ran into a tough stayer there,” Lloyd said.
The performance has not gone unnoticed by bookmakers, with Ladbrokes trimming So You Are dramatically in futures markets following Saturday’s win. The rising stayer has firmed from $51 into $13 for the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 3 and from $101 into $51 for the $10.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday November 3, reflecting growing confidence that he can measure up in Australia’s premier staying contests this spring.
The Metropolitan 2026 Odds
| 1. Aethelwulf | ||
| 2. The Euphrates | ||
| 3. Soul Of Spain | ||
| 4. Juja Kibo | ||
| 5. So You Are |
With six wins and more than $670,000 in prizemoney now on his record, So You Are appears poised to tackle the biggest races of his career, and if Saturday’s Colin Stephen victory is any guide, the Baker-King combination could have an exciting spring staying prospect on their hands.
