Handy galloper So Risque (NZ) (So You Think) showed plenty of fight in registering a winning performance in Saturday’s MRC Foundation Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-prepared six-year-old son of So You Think was three wide early on before settling on the tail of pacemaker Imperial Lad (All Too Hard) as rider Daniel Stackhouse bided his time to make his challenge rounding the home bend.
Stackhouse shot So Risque clear and he maintained a strong gallop to the line to fend off the late challenge of Robusto (Churchill) who chased resolutely to get within a length at the line.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes was delighted to see his charge return to winning form in just his second start in a new campaign.
“It was a good effort,” Hayes said.
“They all jumped with each other and I’m glad Stacky made the decision and rolled forward. It was a great ride.
“It looked like he was going to be caught three-wide and got in a spot without too much work.
“He didn’t have bad luck today and it was really good to get a win with him because he’s been running really well and hasn’t been winning.”
Hayes admitted he did have some anxious moments as Robusto chased hard which brought back memories of the finish to the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) last month where the Hayes-trained Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) went down by a nose to the James McDonald-ridden Romantic Warrior (Acclamation).
“I was watching the race and I was having flashbacks when I saw James McDonald coming late,” he said.
“It was a bit of target race that we came up with today after the month between runs with a trial.
“We’ve always liked him and today went to plan, while it was nice to get a win for Rob (Slade).
So Risque was a $100,000 yearling purchase by syndicator Rob Slade from Windsor Park’s 2019 Book 1 draft at Karaka and has now won six of his 21 starts.
Stackhouse was also taken by the effort by So Risque.
“This horse has got a lot of ability. I wanted to be positive and got a lovely run race with the tempo,” he said.
“We stayed out of trouble, moved forward and travelled really nicely with the tempo.
“I got him to improve on the corner and got the other horses off the bridle.
“He quickened like he did and wouldn’t get beaten.” So Risque is a son of Volksraad mare Risque Business (NZ) and is the older half-brother to promising mare It’s Business Time (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who was runner-up to Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) in Wednesday’s Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton after registering five consecutive victories.
