So You Think prepares for Arc audition in Irish Champion Stakes

Never has a horse arrived in Europe with so much hyperbole, only to disappoint the paying public in his first major test.

So You Think has since recovered from his defeat at Royal Ascot to beat Workforce in the Coral-Eclipse stakes at Sandown and Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown will define the rest of the five-year-old’s season.

The Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown has been won by some of the greats of Flat racing and So You Think is 2/7 to add his name to the hall of fame that includes Sea The Stars, Dylan Thomas, Giant’s Causeway and Sadler’s Wells.

While there will be five horses trying to take the title from So You Think this race carries the aura of an audition rather than a Group 1 race.

So You Think’s principal race targets for the rest of the season are undecided and his performance in the Irish Champion Stakes will define just what direction his connections choose next.

There is a possibility that So You Think will head back to Australia to bid for a hat-trick of Cox Plate wins, but there are many who want to see him run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 2 and possible the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 5.

So You Think is currently 6/1 for the Arc and a win at Longchamp would open Ballydoyle’s eyes to the possibility of doubling up with the Classic.

Never has a horse won both races but So You Think’s ability and versatility to take a liking to any trip between seven furlongs and two miles would make him a real contender.

An impressive performance is needed on Saturday to convince connections that he is their horse to win the Arc, and should So You Think provide it, we could be about to watch a horse make history.