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So You Think filly provides sire with 25th stakes scorer.
The Anthony Freedman-trained Realm Of Flowers (3 f ex Astral Flower by Kalanisi) clearly thrived over the longer trip when she posted an ultra impressive win in the South Australia Fillies Classic (Gr 3, 2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday and in the process provided Coolmore Stud-based sire So You Think (High Chaparral) with his 25th stakes winner.
Purchased by James Bester for $180,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, the daughter of So You Think scored by three-quarters of a length over Silent Sovereign (Dalakhani), while Bellx (Rock Hero) was another three and a quarter lengths further back in third.
"I think she's an awesome filly and there's no question in my mind that with any luck she would be seven from seven now,'' Bester said.
"She was a lovely filly at Easter who from day one I thought was an Oaks type and while she narrowly missed gaining a start in the Oaks there a fortnight ago, hopefully in the spring she can come back and win some nice races during the carnival for us all.''
It was no surprise to see the filly appreciate the step up to 2500 metres being bred to stay the distance. She is out of placed mare Astral Flowers (Kalanisi), making her a half-sister to Thunder Cloud (Manhattan Rain) and Jazahar (Duke Of Marmalade) - who both won over 2100 metres and 2200 metres respectively.
Astral Flower, who was bought for 55,000gns at the 2010 Tattersalls December Mare Sale, is herself out of Arum Lily (Woodman) who also produced Grade 1 winner Redwood (High Chaparral) - who now stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand.
Further back this is the family of Navajo Princess (Drone) - the dam of champion racehorse and sire Dancing Brave (Lyphard), while Navajo Princess is the grandam of Listed-winning trio Barricade (Riverman), Runaway (King's Best) and Kilo Alpha (King's Best) - with the latter being the dam of Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Juliet Foxtrot (Dansili).
Realm Of Flowers' Dundeel (High Chaparral) three-quarters brother, who is now named Astradeel, was purchased for $32,000 by Paul Willetts Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale and Astral Flower was not served in 2017, before missing to So You Think the next season.
Astral Flower has most recently been covered by So You Think's barnmate Churchill (Galileo).
So You Think's progeny is headed by six Group 1 winners, including recent Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Quick Thinker, and he will stand the 2020 season for a fee of $38,500 (inc GST).
