Despite not being the favourite for the upcoming Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, So You Are would be a widely supported winner, largely due to the anticipated reaction of his trainer, Bjorn Baker.
The Warwick Farm horseman is renowned for his spirited celebrations after securing feature race victories, making him one of Australia’s most popular trainers. A similar level of emotional expression is expected from So You Are’s owner, Stuart Ramsay, should the horse win.
Tears are almost certain if the son of So You Think triumphs in the $10 million Group 1 race. Ramsay became emotional when he was informed that So You Are had made the Melbourne Cup field, a result of the 1kg penalty he received for winning the Bendigo Cup last Wednesday. Ramsay revealed that the race would be run in honour of his late father, John.
“My father, he always had the Melbourne Cup winner on the next year’s calendar. He loved it,” Ramsay explained when asked about the significance of the runner. “He’s been dead 40 years, so it’s taken me a while to work on it for him. Hopefully we can win it.”
Ramsay’s colours are familiar sights in the Flemington winner’s enclosure during Cup Week, with past Group 1 winners including Sky Cuddle and Ancient Song. His successful breeding ventures also include the Australian Guineas winner Mr Murphy and the acclaimed Hong Kong champion Able Friend.
It would carry a significant element of irony if So You Are were to become his most celebrated success as an owner, given that racing him was not the initial intention. The colt was offered for sale at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale but failed to meet the $100,000 reserve set by Ramsay.
“We didn’t get a bid for him and we only race the rejects,” Ramsay commented. “But, this horse, there’s something about him. He gallops good, he gets his head down, the air goes straight into those big lungs of his and he can keep going.”
So You Are has demonstrated this capability in his last four starts, with his Bendigo Cup victory following wins in the Group 3 Sydney St Leger (2600m), Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m), and the Listed Tatts Cup (2400m). His only other start for Baker was a second place in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick on August 22, which was his first start since transferring from Stirling Osland, who handled So You Are for his first 23 races.
Among So You Are’s runs for Osland was a second placing to now-stablemate Thebudgiesmugla in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m), a race that features in the form of the past two Melbourne Cup winners, Knight’s Choice and Half Yours. So You Are is the sole runner from this year’s Caloundra Cup engaged in Tuesday’s major race.
He drew barrier seven at Saturday night’s barrier draw, a selection that Ramsay indicated pleased both his trainer and jockey, Rachel King.
“He wanted four to seven, I wanted two, but two had already gone,” Ramsay shared. “There were only five and seven to go when he was draw out and I got one of them so all good. He might get beat, but I tell you what, he’ll be there for a long, long way and it’s just wonderful to have a starter.”
So You Are is one of four horses in this year’s Melbourne Cup who were bred in Australia, along with Knight’s Choice, Strictly Business and Zakouma. Viewed (2008), Shocking (2009) and Vow And Declare (2019) were the only Australian-bred winners of the race in the first 24 editions this century but Australian breeders are chasing a hat-trick of wins following victories to Knight’s Choice and Half Yours.
Punters looking for a value bet might consider the racing odds available on the Melbourne Cup at leading online bookmakers.
