News

Quick Thinker outstays rivals to win Australian Derby

4th Apr 2020

When Hubie de Burgh was given the instruction by OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson “to buy a 3YO stayer for around $100,000’’ from the Easter Yearling Sale, never in his wildest dreams did he think he would find an Australian Derby winner.

But that’s exactly what eventuated at Randwick today when Quick Thinker (So You Think x Acouplamas) outstayed his rivals to win the G1 Derby at Randwick.

“Everyone’s there looking for a Slipper horse but we wanted one that would be a later type,’’ de Burgh said from Ireland today following Quick Thinker’s victory.

“You never think you’re going to buy a Derby winner but this is fantastic. I’m delighted for Terry, he’s a good friend as well as a client.

“This horse was more of a European-style of horse to look at. He was a very good walker, athletic, well balanced and by a quality stallion and now he’s a Debry winner. Unbelievable.’’

Offered by Coolmore Stud, Quick Thinker realised $100,000 at Easter in 2018, exactly what de Burgh was hoping to buy him for.

Quick Thinker is one of 46 individual G1-winning Inglis graduates since the start of 2018, 18 of which are from the Easter Yearling Sale alone.

For breeder Andrew Bowcock, he too was stunned by the enormity of today’s result.

“I never really thought I would breed a Derby winner but this is a fantastic result,’’ Bowcock said.

“I’m only a small breeder. I’m fourth generation but for the small number of mares my wife and I breed, I think to do what we have done over the years is pretty extraordinary and I’m very proud of it.

“Quick Thinker, it’s only his second prep and he’s achieved so much, especially these past few weeks. He showed what he was made of out there today.’’

Bowcock will offer a close relation to Quick Thinker in next week’s Easter Yearling Sale.

Lot 367 is the only Star Turn filly in the catalogue and is out of Capable Mahira, who herself is a sister to Quick Thinker’s dam Acouplamas.

“She’s a cracking filly, a really special type,’’ Bowcock said.

To view the Easter catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Due to restrictions surrounding Coronavirus, this year’s Easter Sale will take the format of a virtual sale.

It begins 10am this coming Tuesday, April 7 and concludes Wednesday, April 8.

To register to bid, CLICK HERE.

Quick Thinker was offered at Easter by Coolmore, whose Tom Magnier said: “As a $100,000 yearling Quick Thinker is yet another example of the great value that can be found at the Easter Sale.

“Congratulations to Hubie de Burgh and OTI Racing who identified him as a future Derby type.

“He was always a classy individual with plenty of scope and a great mover and next week we offer a So You Think colt (lot 139) who also looks like a Derby horse of the future.

“Congratulations must also go to his breeder Andrew Bowcock.”