by Mike Curry
All American overhauled Tatts W. S. Cox Plate (Aus-G1) winner So You Think to secure his first win at the highest level on Saturday with a clear score in the $922,389 Emirates Cantala Stakes (Aus-G1) at Flemington.
Trained by David Hayes, who co-owns the four-year-old Red Ransom colt in partnership, All American completed 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) under Corey Brown in 1:33.98 on turf rated as good.
"That's a proper race to win with a stallion prospect," Hayes told the Courier Mail. "That's the part of the game I really enjoy these days, trying to produce stallions.
"He's been frustrating. He kept running the best sectionals at the Caulfield carnival without winning. He was getting a bit maligned for running well but not having luck."
All American is out of the winning Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Milva, a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and Central Kentucky sire Rock Hard Ten.
A Group 3 winner in 2008, All American finished second last year in the Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes (Aus-G1) and third in the Coolmore Stud Ascot Vale Stakes (Aus-G1). He entered Saturday’s race off a third-place finish in the Patinack Farm Crystal Mile (Aus-G2).
So You Think went to the front under Glen Boss, trying the same tactics that led to success in the Cox Plate. But a swift early tempo took its toll on the Bart Cummings-trained High Chaparral (Ire) colt, who could not respond to All American’s electric finishing speed in the Cantala Stakes.
So You Think held off third-place finisher Gold Salute by a neck.
Also on the card, All Silent, winner of last year’s Cantala Stakes, picked up his second career Group 1 win nearly a year to the date of that breakthrough victory.
The six-year-old Belong to Me gelding completed a last-to-first rally to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the $461,195 Patinack Farm The Age Classic/Victoria Racing Club Stakes (Aus-G1). Trained by Grahame Begg, All Silent completed the 1,200-meter (5.96-furlong) weight-for-age race in 1:08.78 as the favorite under Nick Hall.
A half brother to Australian champion Private Steer (Aus), All Silent will be considered for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) on December 13 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Wanted edged Bank Robber by a head for second, followed by 2007-’08 champion sprinter Apache Cat.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor