Prize colt Now You Know debuts

Five days after So You Think gave Europeans a first-hand insight into his awesome ability, his half-brother, Now You Know, will make his racing debut at Flemington.

While Now You Know has impressed trainer Danny O'Brien, he's not expecting the colt to make screaming headlines at his first start.

O'Brien said he had "no real expectations" tomorrow from Now You Know, a $6.50 chance with TAB Sportsbet, other than for the two-year-old to begin his career.

"He still has a long way to go in terms of physical maturity. He will be a lot better horse in the spring and again next autumn," O'Brien said. "He has shown us enough that we are happy with him."

O'Brien paid $NZ260,000 ($192,000) for So You Think's half brother by Elusive City at the Karaka yearling sale. The colt is the eighth-named foal of Tights mare Triassic, whose seven horses to race have all been winners.

While So You Think is in a league of his own, the other progeny haven't scaled any great heights.

Hip Hip Hooray, a son of Tale Of The Cat, who won six races, is the next best of Triassic's progeny.

"If he's half as good as his older half-brother, he will be very cheap," O'Brien said. "He was a beautiful yearling, a very good style of colt."

O'Brien described Now You Know as a "good style" and added that he was attracted to the colt by his type as much as anything.

"He's a scopey sort of horse. He's got a beautiful stride on him. He's certainly a horse we're thinking (can run) a mile and a quarter, mile and a half as a three-year-old.

"That's why we are kicking him off in a 1400m race. Hopefully, he can balance up and hit the line."

Tomorrow O'Brien also saddles up The New Boy, desperately unlucky last Saturday at Caulfield when beaten a short head by City Of Song.

The New Boy, $5 equal favourite with Euryvale, was forced to change course in the straight when The Counterfeiter rolled out from the fence and took his running, causing him to lose momentum.

"He was stopped in his tracks," O'Brien said.

"He's a bombproof, up-and-running, two-year-old style of horse. We expect him to be the stable elect."

In other news, Eagle Falls, Hinchinbrook, Shrapnel and Star Witness are the Australian entries among the 47 nominations for the July Cup at England's Newmarket course on July 9.

Story by Adrian Dunn, to view Herald Sun story click here

Photo by Bruno Cannetelli, to view Racepixvic website click here