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Thanos edges OTI closer to our 200th individual winner

OTI edged closer to our 200th individual winner on Sunday when our home-bred Thanos broke his maiden status with an impressive victory over 1600m at Bendigo.  Having his fourth start for Archie Alexander, but just his second as a three-year-old, Thanos took advantage of his favourable barrier to park right behind the speed for in-form jockey Jordan Childs. When a gap appeared early in the straight, Thanos was able to work through his gears, hitting the lead with 50m to go and holding off all his opposition to become OTI winner # 193.

Thanos is a gelded son of Mossman out of the El Moxie mare, El Fayze.  Bred in conjunction with the Mt Gambier based Dycer Racing, OTI has enjoyed a great association with the family of Thanos.  He is a half-brother to the Listed-placed Thunder Rain (winner # 120) and to the city winner, Star Scream (winner # 91). OTI also has a high opinion of Mossman as a sire, having bred his son Tee Emar (winner # 93) to black-type performance and a listing on our honour roll.

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We’ve come a long way since recording winner # 1 early in 2000. Super Impressive, racing in the colours of Pacers Australia, was the first OTI-managed horse to salute the judge at Seymour with Patrick Payne in the saddle.  He would go on to win on a further 10 occasions, 3 of which were at Group level.

Winner # 100 was another home-bred named Sunset Café. A talented galloper albeit cursed by injury, Sunset Café won on 4 occasions for his owners. Interestingly, he is the full-brother of Scherzoso, a current member of the OTI stable and also a horse with a high level of talent.

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So who will be winner # 200? Could it be another home-bred, or will it come from an overseas purchase, either racing in Europe or now plying its trade in Australia. Time will tell.