So You Think Races into the History Books

New Zealand Bloodstock graduate So You Think has etched his name into the history books at Mooney Valley yesterday successfully defending his Cox Plate crown.

In a race that has many searching for superlatives, So You Think (High Chaparral x Triassic) has cemented himself as the best horse in Australasia and has earned his title as a modern day champion. He is also the only horse in Cox Plate history to win Australia's premier Weight for Age race as a three and four-year-old.

In a confident ride from jockey Steven Arnold, So You Think ran straight onto the pace, settling beautifully behind race leader More Joyous (More Than Ready x Sunday Joy). Heavily backed in what can only be described as a book-makers nightmare, the four-year-old was in complete control of proceedings and at the 600 metres, Arnold set the champ alight.

Taking the lead on the outside of More Joyous, the old boy Zipping emerged from the pack, keen to keep So You Think well in his sights around the tight Mooney Valley home corner. Running on tired legs, More Joyous tried to go with So You Think but Arnold gave the son of High Chaparral one down the shoulder and he was away, heading into the straight with the three length lead.

Zipping was brave, running the champ to one-and-a-quarter lengths with Whobegotyou storming home in another strong Mooney Valley performance for third. Arnold, who must be the envy of jockeys throughout Australia, rode a brilliant race and was elated with his first Cox Plate win.

"He's just a great horse and showed his qualities today.

"When we got down to the 600m I thought I'd turn on the gas. It's a race where the strongest horse wins and he was that today.

"I got to the bottom of him and he had a bit of a look around at the corner which he did last year as well, but he's an exceptional horse and I'm rapt to be riding him."

Master trainer Bart Cummings notched up his fifth Cox Plate with the win and will be quietly confident looking to the first Tuesday of November.

"That was all right, he was never in any trouble.

"He's up there now in the top four or five but he hasn't won a Melbourne Cup yet, that looks like where we'll go now.

"We'll think about the Mackinnon if I think he needs to run."

Betting markets for the Melbourne Cup immediately reacted to So You Think's win shorting his price to an outright $3.50 favourite with last year's winner Shocking at $5.

A $110,000 purchase for DGR Thoroughbreds from Windsor Park Stud at the 2008 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, So You Think is raced by long time Cummings client and friend Dato Tan Chin Nam in partnership with Tunku Ahmad Yahaya.

From only 10 starts, So You Think has won on seven occasions, four at Group 1 level and has amassed an incredible A$4,574,050.

The Melbourne Cup is celebrating its 150th running this year and will be held on 2 November.

EBDS

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