Racing:Aidan O'Brien anticipates So You Think making a bold bid for Breeders' Cup Classic glory under Ryan Moore at Churchill Downs tomorrow night. The giant ex-Australian five-year-old is bidding bid to become just the third European-trained winner of the Classic.
Andre Fabre’s Arcangues won in 1993 at odds of 133-1 while John Gosden’s Raven’s Pass also take the honours and Frankie Dettori triumphed from O’Brien’s Henrythenavigator.
O’Brien also went agonisingly close when Giant’s Causeway was beaten a neck by Tiznow at this track in 2000 in a stunning finish.
Dual Cox Plate winner So You Think has won three Group Ones since joining O’Brien, but the suspicion remains he has not yet shown his very best, such was the reputation that he held Down Under.
Fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and a close second in the Champion Stakes at Ascot, O’Brien will fit him with blinkers for his clash with the likes of the Todd Pletcher-trained Uncle Mo.
O’Brien said: “We think we are going to be positive because he travels so well in a race and then he keeps rolling. From his gate position, we will be positive with him.
“It looked like he had a tough race at Ascot, but when we got him on the scales at home we found he hadn’t lost a kilo. I couldn’t believe it. The boys (Coolmore) have said he might race on next year and obviously if he does I would be very pleased.
“If he hits the gate, we won’t be holding him back. We think he’s a great traveller through his races, he’s tactically sharp and he’s a very mature, seasoned horse.
“We’ve always thought the world of this horse, he was a very good horse before he joined us and what makes him unique is his high cruising speed.
“Horses like that, the better the race, the better they are. We think he has the attributes you need for the Classic — a good cruising speed, he’s tactically quick, he’s brave but we don’t know about the dirt because he hasn’t run on it before.”
So You Think completed his preparation with light work over a circuit of the dirt course and under floodlights at 6.30am. He was among eight horses O’Brien took onto the track and was ridden by his son, Joseph.
Afterwards, the trainer stressed that the Arc fourth and Champion Stakes runner-up had not been asked to do anything too exacting on the sloppy track.
O’Brien said: “He just went out to stretch his legs. It’s sloppy out there but the forecast is good and hopefully it will dry out a little by tomorrow. Joseph seemed to be happy with him.”