SO YOU PENCE – THE TOUGH MARE HER OWNERS NEVER GAVE UP ON

SEAN Driver couldn’t have summed it up better.

“This is a great story about never giving up on a horse,” were the Kurrinda Bloodstock principal’s words today.

The Hunter-based syndicator was referring to the rising seven-year-old mare So You Pence, who will line up for only her 10th career start at Royal Randwick tomorrow for trainer Matt Dale in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) for four-year-olds and upwards.

It’s her first since winning over 1100m at the same track on Big Dance day (November 4 last year); her fourth victory along with three second placings.

Having big breaks from the track though is nothing new to So You Pence, whom Dale regards as one of the toughest mareshe has ever trained.

At $125,000, So You Pence, a daughter of now deceased international star So You Think, was the sole purchase Kurrinda made at the 2021 Inglis Premier yearling sale in Melbourne.

And when she ran a close second on debut at Wagga (to The Prodigal Son, who subsequently won at Flemington as well as the Wagga Town Plate) before winning at Moruya, the future looked promising.

Sean Driver takes up the story, outlining why So You Pence has had such a limited racing career to date.

“Matt gave her a month off after Moruya, but wasn’t happy with her when he put her back into work,” he explained.

“He said she just didn’t feel right, so we had her examined at a prominent Sydney veterinary practice, where it was discovered she had a genetic defect in her near fore fetlock.

“It was akin to a concussion injury, but she had raced only twice.

“We were told to retire her as she would never race again.”

Driver then took So You Pence to the Scone Equine Hospital, where vets collaborated with a leading USA vet, and she underwent surgery.

“We rehabbed the mare at our property at Fordwich (near Broke) in the Hunter Valley,” he said.

“She was there for two years before she went back to Matt Dale.

“It was an achievement just to get her back to the track, but it was far from plain sailing.”

So You Pence had not raced since winning at Moruya on December 18 2022 when she ran second at Goulburn on March 11 last year before winning twice at that track and at Wagga.

“We took her to Sydney on May 31 last year for her first start in town, but she didn’t like the heavy track and ran sixth against her own sixth in a 1200m Benchmark 78 Handicap,” Driver said.

“In the circumstances, she still ran well (beaten only three lengths) and Matt gave her a break.

“On resumption she ran second at Canterbury, and we were fortunate to pick up a berth in The Kosciuszko at Randwick in October, where she drew awkwardly and ran fifth to Clear Thinking.

“So You Pence then won the $250,000 Barn Dance (1200m) at Randwick in November, and Matt was eyeing the Listed Just Now Quality (1300m) for fillies and mares in Brisbane the following month.”

However, So You Pence’s troubles weren’t over yet.

“Matt trialled her at Kembla Grange on December 2, and she was only a half length from the $12m earner Private Eye,” Driver said.

“Unfortunately she had a double nostril bleed, so Brisbane was off and she hasn’t raced since.

“Then this time back in work, twice she developed a foot abscess, firstly when she was due to come back to Sydney to race and then Melbourne the next time.

“Whilst So You Pence is tackling tomorrow’s assignment first-up, she has been in work for 176 days and Matt has given her four jumpouts.

“She is ready to rock’n’roll.

“We’re hoping she can win or run really well to earn another crack at the $2m The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on October.

“If so, we will back off her after Saturday’s race, and have a crack at The Kossie first-up.”

Driver says So You Pence’s owners have been fantastic, given all the dramas they have encountered with her.

“The operation and the lengthy rehab for two years cost around $40,000, and they have stuck solid.

“It’s been a long wait, but the mare has earned a quarter of a million dollars since coming back after that long absence.

“And I’m sure there is more to come.”

HOOFNOTE: Driver is hoping for a fantastic weekend on and off the track.

After So You Pence races in the closer at Randwick, he will head home to host Kurrinda’s annual Open Day at the Fordwich property on Sunday, where owners and prospective owners can view horses and chat with the syndicator’s trainers Dale, Nathan Doyle, David Pfieffer, Johann Gerard-Dubord (Aussie Joh who is Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer in Sydney), Adrian Bott and Bruce Slade (racing manager for Adrian and Gai Waterhouse), and Liam Ruddy.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 24, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS