So You Think has the “tactical brilliance” to master just four rivals in Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse Stakes, according to his connections.
Aidan O’Brien’s towering five-year-old has been one of the most talked-about horses of the Flat season, having arrived from Australia in January when Coolmore secured a controlling interest from Malaysian tycoon Dato Tan Chin Nam.
Chin Nam still retains a significant interest in So You Think and will be desperate not to witness a repeat of his shuddering downfall at Royal Ascot.
But Duncan Ramage, racing and bloodstock manager for Chin Nam, is convinced the horse’s turn of foot will this time help to avoid any potential skirmishing at Sandown, in what could emerge a muddling encounter.
“He has the tactical brilliance to get himself out of any trouble, so I’m not concerned about the lack of runners,” Ramage said.
“You just have to look at his runs in Australia to realise just how his turn of foot can make all of the difference.
“In fact, I think his turn of foot is his greatest strength.”
So You Think looked imperious in two starts in Ireland but it all went horribly wrong in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, where he was sent off the 4-11 favourite.
O’Brien was swift to blame himself for not having his huge inmate fit enough for the big occasion, in which Ryan Moore kicked on fully two furlongs (400m) from home before succumbing to Rewilding’s late punch.
“Every situation is a learning process, and I’m sure we can learn from Ascot where things did not go entirely to plan,” Ramage said.
“Aidan said that he had left a bit behind coming into Ascot, so he’ll be confident of having a strong horse at Sandown.
“He had two wins prior to his run at Royal Ascot, so he should be seen in a better light at the weekend.”
Seamie Heffernan will be hoping that is the case after the Ballydoyle stalwart was given the nod by his bosses to ride So You Think at the weekend.
Heffernan did the steering on the son of High Chaparral’s European debut at the Curragh at the beginning of May, but Moore took over for both his victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and his reverse at Ascot.
Moore is, however, committed to riding Sir Michael Stoute’s Workforce, last year’s Derby and Arc winner, which has paved the way clear for Heffernan.
In an intriguing sub-plot, Snow Fairy has been declared to run the gauntlet against the supposed big two.
Ed Dunlop’s four-time Group One winner also had the option of competing in the Lancashire Oaks on the same afternoon at Haydock.
The outstanding four-year-old, who will be ridden by Johnny Murtagh, strives to become the first female to win the Eclipse since Kooyonga in 1992.
Sri Putra, last year’s runner-up, and Stoute’s Confront, who is likely to make the running, complete the field.
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