A fantastic day’s racing at Longchamp in France, and So You Think can proves he’s truly world class by landing the Prix de L’Arc De Trimophe (3.15) at a tasty looking 5/1.
The strapping five-year-old achieved legendary status in Australia before joining Aidan O’Brien, winning five Group 1s including two Cox Plates.
He also finished a cracking third in the Melbourne Cup over 2 miles when attempting to win the “race that stops a nation” just two days after winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington.
Since joining team Coolmore he has done nothing wrong, winning four of his five races this season with his only defeat coming when beaten a head by Rewilding in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He was beaten only a head that day in a driving finish, but should have won as his pacemaker did not do the job required and nearly brought him down when cutting him up badly in the early part of the race.
I also think that Ryan Moore was not at his best that day, and if he had held on to So You Think for a bit longer rather than kicking clear two from home I am convinced the result would have been different.
Since then So You Think has gone on to comfortably defeat Workforce in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and Snow Fairy in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Both those wins have come in the hands of Seammie Heffernan who rides him in his work at home and clearly knows how to ride him better than anyone else. It’s great to see him in the saddle once again.
There is no reason why either Workforce or Snow Fairy should reverse the form with So You Think today and he looks to have been brought along steadily by O’Brien to at his absolute peak this afternoon.
I can’t understand why many pundits are saying he won’t stay the 1m 4f, as he has not been stopping in his victories over 1m 2f and put in a remarkable run over 2m in the Melbourne Cup under the circumstances.
To me he looks bombproof and the class act in the field, and a victory this afternoon would certainly be a terrific boost to the world of racing given that he was bred in New Zealand, captured the hearts of the Australian nation and is now trained in Ireland.
At 5/1 he rates a solid bet.
There are plenty of dangers in a classy renewal, with the fillies Sarafina and Galikova among two of the biggest threats.
However for those wanting an each-way punt on a big outsider there are far worse investments that last year’s runner-up Nakayma Festa at 33/1.
The Japanese raider only failed by a head to hold off Worforce last year and looks to have been trained with the sole intention of going one better by his trainer Yoshitaka Ninomiya.
He has only raced twice since finishing a gallant second 12 months ago, and his reappearance in the Prix Foy was his first since picking up an injury in late November.
Admittedly, Nakayama Festa was well-beaten by Sarafina that day, but he was not knocked about whatsoever and it’s not hard to see him leaving that run well behind and running a huge race.
At “double carpet” (33/1) he’s worth an each-way saver.
Daily Sport recommended bets: 5pts win So You Think (5/1 Hills, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power – BOG) 1pt each-way Nakyama Festa (33/1 Boylesports – BOG)
