So You Think Headed For Lockinge Stakes

One of the highest-profile contenders to come out of the Australian/New Zealand racing scene in a long time is the talented five year-old So You Think (High Chaparral). Formerly trained by Australian racing impresario Bart Cummings, So You Think is now a prominent member of AP O’Brien’s south pacific contingent, with his only recent blemish is dropping the most recent iteration of the Melbourne Cup to French-bred Americain (Dynaformer).

The impressive five year-old is set to get a drop back in distance for his widely-anticipated UK debut as he is entered for the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 14. He will be in extremely good company with the O’Brien yard already entering the respected Jan Vermeer (Montjeu) and Dubai World Cup contender Cape Blanco (Galileo).

Irish 2000 Guineas winner Canford Cliffs (Tagula) and World Cup favourite Twice Over (Observatory) are also said to be pointed at this race.

At the time of this writing, 27 contenders remain entered for the Newbury showpiece.

So You Think has a rather interesting pattern in that he only loses to horses with American-themed names. While his vanquisher in the Melbourne Cup was a French-bred named Americain, his previous loss came in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes to a horse named All American (Red Ransom). Combine that with his worst ever showing – a fifth place finish in the Caulfield Guineas to none other than Starspangledbanner (Choisir).

Some punters might be put off by So You Think’s drop back in distance as he has not raced at 1m or less since last August – six races ago. Either way, the ante post markets should be in full-swing for this one with top talent set to emerge from all corners of the globe.