Diehard So Si Bon fans will notice a couple of significant things about his place in Saturday’s $130,000 Global Turf BM100 Handicap (1400m) at Bendigo.
One would be that it is the first non-Black Type handicap he has run in in almost two years.
Since running sixth in a 1600m Open Handicap at Flemington on 23 May 2020, 19 of the son of So You Think’s 22 starts have come in Black Type races with the other three in rich VOBIS Gold races.
The other thing his fans will notice is that only once in that time has he started longer than the $61 he was in TAB’s market on Friday morning.
That was last year’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes, when he ran fifth at $81, and co-trainer Ben Hayes is excited about seeing him kick off another campaign in lower grade.
“This would be one of the weaker races he’s run in, of course he has to carry top weight, but I think it’s not a bad race to kick off in,” Hayes said.
“He hasn’t been out of Group or Listed company for a long time. He’s healthy and well, he’s loving his trackwork and we’re very happy with him.”
The rising nine-year-old hasn’t run since finishing sixth of 11 in the Listed Lord Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
That was start number 73 for the gelding who has won eight races and placed a further 15 times for $1,916,610 in stakes.
He tuned up for his return with Flemington jumpouts on March 18 and 25, including a strong on-pace win in the latter.
“His last trial in particular he was very good,” Hayes said. “He’s got a good fresh record, he’s always been very competitive and carries the weight well. I’ll expect him to put in a good showing.”
So Si Bon has drawn barrier four in the 16-horse Global Turf BM100 Handicap, in which he will be ridden by Jamie Mott. Favourite, at $3.10, is last-start Blamey Stakes placegetter Corner Pocket.