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So You Think

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So You Think
Racing silks of Dato Tan Chin Nam and Derrick Smith
SireHigh Chaparral (IRE)
GrandsireSadler's Wells
DamTriassic
DamsireTights (USA)
SexStallion
Foaled2006
CountryNew Zealand
ColourBay or Brown
BreederM.J. Moran & Piper Farm Ltd
Owner1. Dato Tan Chin Nam
2. Coolmore Stud et al.
Trainer1. Bart Cummings
2. Aidan O'Brien
Record23: 14-4-1[1]
EarningsA$10,749,800[2]
Major wins
W S Cox Plate (2009, 2010)
Underwood Stakes (2010)
Yalumba Stakes (2010)
LKS Mackinnon Stakes (2010)
Tattersalls Gold Cup (2011, 2012)
Eclipse Stakes (2011)
Irish Champion Stakes (2011)
Prince of Wales's Stakes (2012)
Awards
Australian Champion Three Year Old (2010)
Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse (2011)
Honours
New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame
Australian Racing Hall of Fame (2019)
World Champion Intermediate Distance Turf Performer (2010)
World Champion Extended Distance Performer (2010)
Timeform rating: 133[3]
Last updated on 14 May 2019

So You Think (foaled 10 November 2006)[4] ia a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, now majority owned by Coolmore Stud of Ireland. So You Think came to prominence through winning the 2009 and 2010 Cox Plates,[5] Australia's premier weight for age race. His first Cox Plate win was at only his fifth career start. His second Cox Plate win came at just his tenth career start. He started as favourite for the 2010 Melbourne Cup but finished third, in his first race past 2,040 metres. So You Think was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.[6]

Background

He was bred by M J Moran & Piper Farm Ltd and foaled at the Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge, New Zealand. So You Think was purchased for $NZ110,000 at the 2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale on behalf of Malaysian billionaire Dato Tan Chin Nam and Tunku Ahmad Yahaya and was trained by Bart Cummings.

He was sired by the Irish-bred Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral out of Triassic, a New Zealand-bred daughter of the American stallion Tights. Although officially a bay, So You Think is a dark brown horse, sometimes appearing almost black.[7]

Southern Hemisphere horses have their official birthday on 1 August, while in the Northern Hemisphere, the date is 1 January. This leads to some confusion concerning So You Think's age. Between 1 January and 1 August 2011, he was a four-year-old by Australian reckoning, but was regarded as a five-year-old in Europe. A similar discrepancy occurred in 2012.

Racing career

2008–2010: two and three-year-old seasons in Australia

So You Think had won two of his four starts before the 2009 Cox Plate, including a Group 3 against his fellow three-year-olds, and earned a start in the Cox Plate with a solid finish for fifth in the Caulfield Guineas. There was some debate on whether the horse had achieved enough to warrant a start in the Cox Plate, but the Moonee Valley Racing Club decided that he was up to the challenge. He won the Cox Plate in convincing style, leading all the way[8] to win by 2½ lengths in a fast time of 2:03.98. So You Think followed up his Cox Plate win with a second in the Emirates Stakes two weeks later, in his last race as a three-year-old.

2010–2011: four-year-old season in Australia

The horse resumed racing as a four-year-old in August 2010 with a win in the Memsie Stakes, beating several of Australia's top gallopers and making him the early favourite for the 2010 Cox Plate. Group One wins in the Underwood Stakes and the Yalumba Stakes meant he started odds-on for the Cox Plate, with many people labeling him as one of the best horses to ever race in Australia. He won the 2010 Cox Plate in convincing style with Steven Arnold as jockey. A week later the horse was untroubled in winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes. He came third in the Melbourne Cup behind Maluckyday and winner Americain. After the race Coolmore Stud reportedly paid A$25 million for a majority interest in So You Think deciding to race the horse in Europe and to be trained by Aidan O'Brien.[9]

2011: five-year-old season in Europe

So You Think made his European debut in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh Racecourse on 2 May 2011, winning by 12 lengths in a field of five.[10] He made it two from two with victory in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on 22 May. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said of his four-and-a-half-length success: "He's incredible - a different creature to what we've ever seen before."[11] He was clear favourite in The Prince of Wales at Ascot 2011, with Willie Carson famously claiming you should 'bet your house' on him five minutes before the race. However, he was pipped by Rewilding, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Dettori was later suspended for nine days for excessive use of the whip on Rewilding.[12] Huge bets had been placed on So You Think, with one punter putting on ninety thousand pounds on the morning of the race. He bounced back on his next outing, in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, winning by a half length from 2010 Derby and Arc winner Workforce.[13]

Following an eight-week spell, So You Think resumed racing again in the Irish Champion Stakes, where he gained a half-length victory over multiple Group One winner Snow Fairy.[14] A month later he ran fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind the German filly Danedream, who won in track record time.[15] So You Think's third run as a five-year-old was in the British Champion Stakes at Ascot on 15 October. He started the race as favourite and went to the front with 400 metres to run but finished second when the French horse Cirrus des Aigles stormed home to win a neck to neck run.[16] He then contested the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he ran sixth in his first race on dirt.

2012: six-year-old season in Europe

Following a spell of five months, during which he became a six-year-old by Northern Hemisphere reckoning he returned to racing in the Dubai World Cup, where he came fourth in his first run on Tapeta. On his return to Europe, So You Think took the Tattersalls Gold Cup for the second time, beating Famous Name by six lengths on 27 May. In June he returned to Royal Ascot for a second attempt at the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Starting 4/5 favourite against ten opponents, he took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won by two and a quarter lengths from the Queen's colt Carlton House.[17] So You Think was scheduled to make his final appearance in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on 7 May, but was withdrawn after being found to be lame two days before the race.[18]

Race record

2008–09 season as a two-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight (kg) Jockey Winner/2nd
Won 20 May 2009 2yo Hcp Restricted Rosehill NA 1400 m 57 H. Bowman 2nd - Shamash
2009–10 season as a three-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight (kg) Jockey Winner/2nd
2nd 5 Sep 2009 Ming Dynasty Quality Randwick LR 1400 m 53 G. Schofield 1st - More Than Great
Won 19 Sep 2009 Gloaming Stakes Rosehill G3 1800 m 56.5 H. Bowman 2nd - Gathering
5th 10 Oct 2009 Caulfield Guineas Caulfield G1 1600 m 55.5 M. Rodd 1st - Starspangledbanner
Won 24 Oct 2009 W S Cox Plate Moonee Valley G1 2040 m 49.5 G. Boss 2nd - Manhattan Rain
2nd 7 Nov 2009 Emirates Stakes Flemington G1 1600 m 53.5 G. Boss 1st - All American
2010–11 season as a four-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight (kg) Jockey Winner/2nd
Won 28 Aug 2010 Memsie Stakes Caulfield G2 1400 m 58.5 S. Arnold 2nd - Whobegotyou
Won 18 Sep 2010 Underwood Stakes Caulfield G1 1800 m 58 S. Arnold 2nd - Dariana
Won 9 Oct 2010 Yalumba Stakes Caulfield G1 2000 m 58 S. Arnold 2nd - Alcopop
Won 23 Oct 2010 W S Cox Plate Moonee Valley G1 2040 m 57.5 S. Arnold 2nd - Zipping
Won 30 Oct 2010 Mackinnon Stakes Flemington G1 2000 m 58 S. Arnold 2nd - Descarado
3rd 2 Nov 2010 Melbourne Cup Flemington G1 3200 m 56 S. Arnold 1st - Americain
2011 season as a five-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight Jockey Winner/2nd
Won 2 May 2011 Mooresbridge Stakes Curragh G3 2000 m 60 S. Heffernan 2nd - Bob le Beau
Won 22 May 2011 Tattersalls Gold Cup Curragh G1 2100 m 57.5 R. Moore 2nd - Campanologist
2nd 15 Jun 2011 Prince of Wales's Stakes Ascot G1 2000 m 57 R. Moore 1st - Rewilding
Won 2 Jul 2011 Eclipse Stakes Sandown Park G1 2000 m 60.5 S. Heffernan 2nd - Workforce
Won 3 Sep 2011 Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown G1 2000 m 60.5 kg S. Heffernan 2nd - Snow Fairy
4th 2 Oct 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Longchamp G1 2400 m 59.5 kg S. Heffernan 1st - Danedream
2nd 15 Oct 2011 British Champion Stakes Ascot G1 2000 m 129 lb R. Moore 1st - Cirrus des Aigles
6th 5 Nov 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic Churchill Downs G1 1¼ miles 126 lb R. Moore 1st - Drosselmeyer
2012 season as a six-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight Jockey Winner/2nd
4th 31 Mar 2012 Dubai World Cup Meydan G1 2000m 126 lb J. O' Brien 1st - Monterosso
Won 27 May 2012 Tattersalls Gold Cup Curragh G1 2100 m 129 lb J. O' Brien 2nd - Famous Name
Won 20 June 2012 Prince of Wales's Stakes Ascot G1 2000 m 126 lb J. O' Brien 2nd - Carlton House

Stud record

So You Think serves as a shuttle stallion in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres for Coolmore Stud.

He has currently sired 6 individual Group 1 winners:

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
2013 Inference c Randwick Guineas
2013 La Bella Diosa f New Zealand 1000 Guineas
2014 D’Argento c Rosehill Guineas
2014 Sopressa f Australasian Oaks
2015 Nakeeta Jane f Surround Stakes
2016 Quick Thinker c Australian Derby

Honours

So You Think was rated equal Champion Intermediate (Middle Distance) Turf Performer in the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings along with Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco, by the International Federation of Horse Authorities. He was also rated Champion Extended Distance Performer for his 3rd in the 2010 Melbourne Cup.[19]

Pedigree

Pedigree of So You Think (NZ)
Sire
High Chaparral (Ire)
1999 		Sadler's Wells (USA)
1981 		Northern Dancer (Can)
1961 		Nearctic (Can)
Natalma (USA)
Fairy Bridge (USA)
1975 		Bold Reason (USA)
Special (USA)
Kasora (Ire)
1993 		Darshaan (GB)
1981 		Shirley Heights (GB)
Delsy (Fr)
Kozana (GB)
1982 		Kris (GB)
Koblenza (Fr)
Dam
Triassic (NZ)
1990 		Tights (USA)
1981 		Nijinsky (Can)
1967 		Northern Dancer (Can)
Flaming Page (Can)
Dancealot (USA)
1971 		Round Table (USA)
Music Please (USA)
Astral Row (NZ)
1979 		Long Row (GB)
1970 		Linacre (Ire)
Front Row (GB)
Pak Bun Bay (Aus)
1970 		Matinee Idol (Aus)
Philipolo (NZ)

References

  1. ^ "So You Think wins again in Ireland". ABC Sport. ABC. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  2. ^ AS B: So You Think (NZ) Retrieved 2010-10-30
  3. ^ Cox, Michael (1 November 2010). "Timeform Rating". Illawarramercury.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  4. ^ "ASB -So You Think (NZ)". Studbook.org.au. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  5. ^ http://www.aapracing.com.au/group-races/group-1/october-2009/3428/MTY6MTY=
  6. ^ Racing Victoria Staff (14 May 2019). "Bowman amongst 2019 Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees". Racing Victoria.
  7. ^ http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2010/10/22/1225942/013494-so-you-think.jpg
  8. ^ "What Do You Think?". Virtualformguide.com. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  9. ^ Cook, Craig (4 November 2010). "Offshore bid to take So You Think has Bart 'in the dark'". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Archived from the original on 5 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  10. ^ Sue Montgomery (3 May 2011). "So You Think wins new converts". The Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  11. ^ Stuart Riley (21 May 2011). "Easy Group 1 victory for 'incredible' So You Think". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  12. ^ Greg Wood (15 June 2011). "Frankie Dettori's Ascot win upsets punters and stewards". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  13. ^ Sue Montgomery (3 July 2011). "So You Think stakes his claim to global greatness". The Independent. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  14. ^ "So You Think thrills in Red Mills". Irishtimes.com. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  15. ^ J A McGrath (2 October 2011). "Danedream delivers a shock win for Germany in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  16. ^ "So You Think". puntersparadise. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Results from the 3.45 race at ASCOT - 20 June 2012". Racing Post. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  18. ^ "BBC Sport - So You Think to miss Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  19. ^ Black Caviar and So You Think Rated Best In The World in latest rankings release Retrieved 2011-2-19
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