Sledmere Stud sale graduate Evaporate (NZ) got back into winning ways when completely dominating a high-class field which contested the $200,000 Ranvet So You Think Stakes (1500m), a pseudo stakes race run under Set Weights plus Penalties conditions and staged on the Group 1 Moir Stakes program at Sandown last Saturday.
A relatively new contest on the Victorian racing calendar, the So You Think Stakes has only been run on a couple of previous occasions. Last season witnessed subsequent Group 1 The Goodwood winner Desert Lightning (NZ) prove successful, while the season before that Pericles saluted and then ultimately claimed the 2026 Group 1 Futurity Stakes.
Despite being void of black-type status, Saturday’s So You Think Stakes field was of an equally high standard yet witnessed Evaporate (NZ) run out a near two-lengths winner with winning rider Blake Shinn sitting passively on the 5-year-old over the closing stages.
Speaking after the win, Shinn remarked: “I’m really happy for the team [Lindsay Park Racing] and more so the horse. He’s really been knocking on the door at some top level and he was so well placed today.
“They came here and targeted the race to try and give him some confidence into the Spring and the horse executed the race probably the best I’ve ever ridden him.”
Asked if he thought that Evaporate (NZ) could go on and win at Group 1 level this season, Shinn replied: “We definitely believe he’s got that talent … Today was a great sign going forward.”
A leading Spring 3-year-old of his generation that has virtually completed in Group race company ever since, Evaporate (NZ) took his record to seven wins and 10 placings from 25 starts, earning his connections a running total of $3,321,776.
Expertly placed by Lindsay Park Racing, Evaporate (NZ) has long since been held in high regard by the Hayes Brothers. Speaking of behalf of the senior management team, Ben Hayes stated in his post-race interview: “We’re thrilled with that. We love Evaporate (NZ), he’s been a model of consistency running in tougher races and it looked a good race for him today.”
Ben Hayes added: “We’ve got plenty of options with him and we’ve thrown him in the deep-end a lot … we feel like he is a Group 1 horse and hopefully that’s this preparation.”
Evaporate (NZ) is a wonderful advertisement for his sire, New Zealand-based Per Incanto, and for his breeder, Little Avondale Stud of Masterton, NZ.
We are also proud to have played our part in his success. Sledmere Stud consigned Evaporate (NZ) as a 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling and his latest victory was another big thrill in a highly distinguished career still going very strong.