Even an overseas move isn’t enough to stop one bookmaker from posting duel Cox Plate winner ‘So You Think’ as favourite for the 2011 edition.
Betstar released the first market for next year’s Cox Plate on Monday, with the colt heading betting at $8 to join ‘Kingston Town’ as a three time winner of the Weight For Age race.
Irish breeding and racing giant Coolmore secured a major stake in So You Think a day after the colt finished third in the Melbourne Cup behind Americain.
In the wake of his part sale, it was widely speculated that So You Think will not race in Australia again.
Under the terms of the sale, So You Think will be sent to Ireland to be prepared by Coolmore’s head trainer Aidan O’Brien before he is eventually retired to stand at stud.
The reason for the champion heading the market is that Betstar’s Alan Eskander isn’t convinced the switch from Bart Cummings to O’Brien means Australian racegoers have seen the last of the champion.
“Until Coolmore say’s he’s definitely not racing in Australia, he’s still our Cox Plate favourite,” Eskander said.
‘More Joyous’, who was unplaced as second favourite behind So You Think in this year’s race, occupies the same line of betting at $11 for 2011.
‘Zipping’, fresh from his fourth Sandown Classic win, is a $26 chance to go one better than this year’s runner-up finish.
Written by Isaac Chaplin
