On Moonee Valley's most important day of the year Kiwis stole the show by winning three esteemed Group races with the highlight clearly produced by three-year-old So You Think in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).

Trained by the sensational Bart Cummings, So You Think (High Chaparral x Triassic, by Tights) has shown immense ability in just five race starts with wins coming in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes and on Saturday, Australia's most important weight-for age event, the $3,000,000 Cox Plate.

Having always shown the capacity to sit back, relax, and finish strongly, it was somewhat surprising to see the colt stride freely to the front. To his credit, and open-minded jockey Glen Boss, So You Think assumed the lead and settled in the way that on-lookers had become accustomed to seeing.

Kicking on the tight Moonee Valley home-bend So You Think pulled away from the 12 opposition, which included ten Group 1 winners, to win in a second fastest time of 2.03.98 for the race, just outside Might and Power's (NZ) record.

His win gave New Zealand-breds three victories in a row in the weight-for age feature with Maldivian (NZ) and El Segundo (NZ) winning the past two runnings.

So You Think was bred by Cecile Smith and Windsor Park Stud's  Mike Moran who later sold him through Karaka's Premier Sale where the eye of Bart Cummings and Duncan Ramage secured him for $110,000.

The High Chaparral colt is raced by Dato Chan Nam, who raced another wonderful NZ-bred galloper Saintly, and Tunk Ahmad Yahaya for whom he has realised over $2,000,000 on the race-track in just a handful of starts.

His sire High Chaparral is represented by three geldings at the upcoming NZB Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds and is currently serving a full book of mares at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge.

The last horse to win the Group 1 Cox Plate as a three-year-old was Savabeel in 2004. Having kicked off a bright stud career at Waikato Stud the son of Zabeel is represented by 11 two-year-olds at Australasia's most successful breeze-up Sale, the NZB Ready to Run Sale.

Rangirandoo

Rangirangdoo (Pentire x She Wishes, by Kenfair) joined So You Think in the Moonee Valley winners circle on Saturday and, like the Cox Plate winner, won his race in super quick time.

The Chris Waller trained galloper took out the Group 2 Patinack Farm Crystal Mile (1600m) in a course record time of 1.34.98 after sitting one back off the fence for Corey Brown.

The time clearly showed he had got a good grasp of the sharp track after the week leading into the race saw him dislodge his work rider when Waller took his charge to 'the Valley' for a taste of the course.

His Group 2 victory showed there is plenty in store for the son of Pentire who has now won seven of 13 including the Group 3 Tramway Stakes in Sydney.

The five-year-old who was purchased by Plumb Racing from Longlands Stud at Karaka Premier for $170,000 is now the winner of close to $500,000 for owner Neville Morgan.

His sire Pentire is represented by two colts at NZB's upcoming Ready to Run Sale.

Hanks

The Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) is set for Flemington next Saturday and Karaka graduate Hanks (Encosta De Lago x Sister Fromseattle, Seattle Slew) stuck his hand up high for the feature when devouring his opposition in a traditional lead-up affair, the Group 2 AAMI Vase (2040m).

Running over the top of the field to score by half-a-length, Hanks looked the part and his trainer Peter Moody is bullish about his charge whose dam is a half-sister to successful racehorse and sire Dehere (Deputy Minister).

Moody purchased the well-bred youngster at Karaka Premier 2008 from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. His price-tag of $150,000 looks petty now when compared to his $170,000 in earnings leading into the $1,500,000 Group 1 Victoria Derby next weekend.

Champion sire Encosta De Lago is represented by three colts at NZB's Ready to Run Sale to be held at Karaka on 17 November.

Catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Ready To Run Sale can now be viewed at http://www.nzb.co.nz/.

Hard copies are available from reception@nzb.co.nz.

View breeze-ups online here. To order your copy of the Breeze Ups on DVD for TV or PC contact Marketing Executive Haylie Martin on +64 9 298 0055 or email haylie.martin@nzb.co.nz

For assistance with hotel bookings in Auckland for November contact NZB Hospitality Coordinator Victoria Vela on +64 9 298 0055 or email victoria.vela@nzb.co.nz