So Si Bon may have been a cause of frustration for punters over his long career but for his trainers he has been a breeze.
The only thing for current trainers Ben and JD Hayes is that he does not win as often as they would like, but on Sunday he will chase a second win in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield.
After starting his career with Robbie Laing, where he registered a solitary win, at Pakenham in September 2016, So Si Bon did fill a place in Group 1 company on a couple of occasions.
Halfway through his four-year-old year, So Si Bon was transferred to Lindsay Park where it took until the 2018 Lord Stakes for the gelding to finally breakthrough for the new stable.
Ben Hayes said despite So Si Bon’s advancing years, he’s now an eight-year-old, the gelding is the soundest horse in the yard.
“Apart from the gelding operation, he’s never been to the vet’s once,” Hayes said.
“He’s the soundest horse in the yard. He hasn’t had anything, no niggles. He’s been a very straight forward horse to train.”
So Si Bon last tasted success in the VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m) at Caulfield in April and on Sunday will be lining up for the seventh start of the preparation.
His most recent outing was when seventh in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 11.
“He had a wide draw there. We were chasing the wet tracks but unfortunately that track dried out before his race,” Hayes said.
“But we’re really happy with him. He’s coping with his racing and there’s no signs of training off at all.
“We’ve been happy with him back at Euroa and he’s come back down to Flemington on Tuesday and settled in really well.
“He has performed well on dry surfaces before, he races well at Caulfield, it’s probably his best track.”
