So You Think impresses by winning the Grade 1 Irish Champion Stakes-Snow Fairy valiant in defeat
Strongly pressed winner from Snow Fairy was easily held off by the Aidan O’Brien trained 5-year-old brown horse So You Think in the Group 1 Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on 3 September, 2011.
The pacey individual has many attributes to him, not to mention his strong neck, in short So You Think has a presence about him which make other runners feel intimidated, as he is without a doubt an amazing specimen of a thoroughbred.
The race showed that the globetrotting, Snow Fairy is coming to her own as she looked in form when she challenged furiously for the winner, but was kept at bay by So You Think.
Coming back to So You Think, the older horse has added his name to the stellar list of horses, who have gone on to win the Irish Champion Stakes after a thrilling finish.
The son of High Chaparral, out of Triassic by Tights, So You Think was listed at 1 to 3 to win the $1,008,500 Irish Champion Stakes, and he did not disappoint the punters and lived up to his reputation.
He ran over a distance of 10 furlongs defeating five rivals on the way and earned an automatic berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. The race was part of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup series.
In the field of six for the Irish Champion Stakes were four grade 1 winners, and the competition was tough for the heavily favoured Aidan O’Brien horse.
So You Think hadn’t run since 2 July, 2011 when he out finished Sir Michael Stoute trained Workforce by half a length to win the 1 mile and 2 furlongs Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
Under Seamie Heffernan, So You Think was at ease as he galloped along, but the evident threat of Snow Fairy tracking him loomed constantly as she tracked him sitting comfortable in third place.
Another Aidan O’Brien trained horse Roderic O’Connor had pace setting duties, as he showed much of the way. With two furlongs to go, Seamie Heffernan demanded more of So You Think, and the horse showed how big of an engine he has.
Rolled past his stable mate to assume the lead, while doing so, he opened up a slight lead at the front. Frank Dettori over Snow Fairy came screaming from behind on outside to challenge So You Think and the lead.
The duel was on in the final furlong, but So You Think kept the filly at bay and claimed the Irish Champion Stakes by half a length and completed the 10 furlongs in 2 minutes and 4.20 seconds.
Plans remain unclear for So You Think but in the coming days he could be pointed towards the Grade 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
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