OTI racing partners celebrated back to back Group successes at Rosehill on Saturday.
The win of three-year-old colt Quick Thinker in the G2 Tulloch Stakes was followed up just 40 minutes later by Night’s Watch in the G3 Neville Sellwood.
Quick Thinker demonstrated his class and proved too strong for his rivals, revelling in the soft conditions for jockey James McDonald.
Given the current restrictions surrounding New Zealand, where the son of So You Think is prepared by Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, the win was celebrated just as hard across the Tasman.
Murray Baker and @ForsmanAndrew team up with fellow Kiwi @mcacajamez to take out the TAB Tulloch Stakes with Quick Thinker… Onwards to the Derby @atc_races pic.twitter.com/dbhMEfTdbD
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 28, 2020
He will now press on to the G1 Australian Derby at Randwick this Saturday.
McDonald proved to be the common denominator in both victories, when he partnered Night’s Watch to win his first race since the spring of 2018.
Connections were duly rewarded for their patience when the six-year-old surged through towards the inside, attacking the line with great vigour over the final 100m.
Night’s Watch appears likely to race in the G1 Doncaster Mile on Day 1 of The Championships.
The Championships present a busy period for OTI. Gailo Chop is currently based in Sydney for the autumn alongside Gallic Chieftain, Azuro and progressive import Corncrake, who are all preparing for a tilt at the G1 Sydney Cup on Day 2.