So You Think & Shamrocker Amongst Australia's Best

With Lion Tamer (NZ) taking the first Victorian Group 1 race of the season, So You Think (NZ) and Shamrocker (NZ) capped off a highly successful weekend for the Kiwis across the Tasman last night being honoured at the Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards.

Few would argue that it was no surprise So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral x Triassic) won the Australian Champion Middle Distance Award. A winner of four consecutive Group 1 races from 1800 to 2040 metres last season, his wins in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) and the Yalumba Stakes (2000m) were simply breathtaking.

So You Think (NZ) cruises home in the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes

So You Think's next win in the Southern Hemisphere's greatest weight-for-age race, the Cox Plate (2040m), saw him defeat a field containing the elite middle distance performers in Australia, and make history as the only horse to win the Cox Plate at ages three and four. And if that wasn't enough, his victory in the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) was exceptional.

With three Group 1 races to his name in Ireland and England since his transfer to Aidan O'Brien's stables, France has been confirmed as So You Think's next stop where he will vie to win one of the Northern Hemisphere's greatest races, the world famous Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m).

An eight-time Group 1 winner, So You Think was purchased by Duncan Ramage's DGR Thoroughbreds from Windsor Park Stud at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale for $110,000.

A filly that made history last season, Shamrocker (NZ) (O'Reilly x Bohemian Blues) was the deserved winner of New Zealand Bloodstock's Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Award. Of the four fillies nominated, three were New Zealand bred Karaka graduates with Shamrocker competing for the honour against Brazilian Pulse (NZ) (Captain Rio) who took the Group 1 VRC Oaks and Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel x On Call) who won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

In what was an outstanding three-year-old season, Shamrocker was the first filly to win the Group 1 Australian Derby in 22 years, and the only filly to win the Group 1 Australian Guineas/Group 1 Australian Derby double. Shamrocker is considered a leading contender for this year's Caulfield and Melbourne Cups where she is quoted at $26 for both races with the TAB.

Bred by Mrs M R & V Trillo, Shamrocker was purchased by her trainer Danny O'Brien from Valachi Downs at the 2009 Karaka Select Sale for $65,000. She has now won just shy of A$2 million in stakes.