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So You Think
Racing silks of Dato Tan Chin Nam and Derrick Smith
SireHigh Chaparral
DamTriassic
SexStallion
Foaled10 November 2006[1]
Died20 October 2025 (aged 18)
CountryNew Zealand
ColourBay or Brown
BreederM.J. Moran & Piper Farm Ltd
Owner1. Dato Tan Chin Nam
2. Coolmore Stud et al.
Trainer1. Bart Cummings
2. Aidan O'Brien
Record23: 14-4-1[2]
EarningsA$10,749,800[3]
Major wins
W S Cox Plate (2009, 2010)
Underwood Stakes (2010)
Yalumba Stakes (2010)
LKS Mackinnon Stakes (2010)
Tattersalls Gold Cup (2011, 2012)
Eclipse Stakes (2011)
Irish Champion Stakes (2011)
Prince of Wales's Stakes (2012)
Awards
Australian Champion Three Year Old (2010)
Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse (2011)
Honours
New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame
Australian Racing Hall of Fame (2019)
World Champion Intermediate Distance Turf Performer (2010)
World Champion Extended Distance Performer (2010)
Timeform rating: 133[4]
Last updated on 14 May 2019

So You Think (10 November 2006 – 20 October 2025) was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, majority-owned by Coolmore Stud of Ireland. So You Think came to prominence through winning the 2009 and 2010 Cox Plates,[5] Australia's premier weight for age race. His first Cox Plate win was at only his fifth career start. His second Cox Plate win came at just his tenth career start. He started as favourite for the 2010 Melbourne Cup but finished third, in his first race past 2,040 metres. So You Think was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.[6]

Background

[edit]

So You Think was bred by M J Moran & Piper Farm Ltd and foaled at the Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge, New Zealand. So You Think was purchased for $NZ110,000 at the 2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale on behalf of Malaysian billionaire Dato' Tan Chin Nam and Tunku Ahmad Yahaya and was trained by Bart Cummings.

He was sired by the Irish-bred Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral out of Triassic, a New Zealand-bred daughter of the American stallion Tights. Although officially a bay, So You Think was a dark brown horse, sometimes appearing almost black.[7]

Southern Hemisphere horses have their official birthday on 1 August, while in the Northern Hemisphere, the date is 1 January. This leads to some confusion concerning So You Think's age. Between 1 January and 1 August 2011, he was a four-year-old by Australian reckoning, but was regarded as a five-year-old in Europe. A similar discrepancy occurred in 2012.

Racing career

[edit]

2008–2010: two and three-year-old seasons in Australia

[edit]

So You Think had won two of his four starts before the 2009 Cox Plate, including a Group 3 against his fellow three-year-olds, and earned a start in the Cox Plate with a solid finish for fifth in the Caulfield Guineas. There was some debate on whether the horse had achieved enough to warrant a start in the Cox Plate, but the Moonee Valley Racing Club decided that he was up to the challenge. He won the Cox Plate in convincing style, leading all the way[8] to win by 2½ lengths in a fast time of 2:03.98. So You Think followed up his Cox Plate win with a second in the Emirates Stakes two weeks later, in his last race as a three-year-old.

2010–2011: four-year-old season in Australia

[edit]

The horse resumed racing as a four-year-old in August 2010 with a win in the Memsie Stakes, beating several of Australia's top gallopers and making him the early favourite for the 2010 Cox Plate. Group One wins in the Underwood Stakes and the Yalumba Stakes meant he started odds-on for the Cox Plate, with many people labeling him as one of the best horses to ever race in Australia. He won the 2010 Cox Plate in convincing style with Steven Arnold as jockey. A week later the horse was untroubled in winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes. He came third in the 2010 Melbourne Cup behind Maluckyday and winner Americain. After the race Coolmore Stud reportedly paid A$25 million for a majority interest in So You Think deciding to race the horse in Europe and to be trained by Aidan O'Brien.[9]

2011: five-year-old season in Europe

[edit]

So You Think made his European debut in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh Racecourse on 2 May 2011, winning by 12 lengths in a field of five.[10] He made it two from two with victory in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on 22 May. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said of his four-and-a-half-length success: "He's incredible - a different creature to what we've ever seen before."[11] He was clear favourite in The Prince of Wales at Ascot 2011, with Willie Carson famously claiming you should 'bet your house' on him five minutes before the race. However, he was pipped by Rewilding, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Dettori was later suspended for nine days for excessive use of the whip on Rewilding.[12] Huge bets had been placed on So You Think, with one punter putting on ninety thousand pounds on the morning of the race. He bounced back on his next outing, in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, winning by a half length from 2010 Derby and Arc winner Workforce.[13]

Following an eight-week spell, So You Think resumed racing again in the Irish Champion Stakes, where he gained a half-length victory over multiple Group One winner Snow Fairy.[14] A month later he ran fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind the German filly Danedream, who won in track record time.[15] So You Think's third run as a five-year-old was in the British Champion Stakes at Ascot on 15 October. He started the race as favourite and went to the front with 400 metres to run but finished second when the French horse Cirrus des Aigles stormed home to win a neck to neck run.[16] He then contested the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he ran sixth in his first race on dirt.

2012: six-year-old season in Europe

[edit]

Following a spell of five months, during which he became a six-year-old by Northern Hemisphere reckoning he returned to racing in the Dubai World Cup, where he came fourth in his first run on Tapeta. On his return to Europe, So You Think took the Tattersalls Gold Cup for the second time, beating Famous Name by six lengths on 27 May. In June he returned to Royal Ascot for a second attempt at the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Starting 4/5 favourite against ten opponents, he took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won by two and a quarter lengths from the Queen's colt Carlton House.[17] So You Think was scheduled to make his final appearance in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on 7 May, but was withdrawn after being found to be lame two days before the race.[18]

Race record

[edit]
2008–09 season as a two-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight (kg) Jockey Winner/2nd
Won 20 May 2009 2yo Hcp Restricted Rosehill NA 1400 m 57 H. Bowman 2nd - Shamash
2009–10 season as a three-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight (kg) Jockey Winner/2nd
2nd 5 Sep 2009 Ming Dynasty Quality Randwick LR 1400 m 53 G. Schofield 1st - More Than Great
Won 19 Sep 2009 Gloaming Stakes Rosehill G3 1800 m 56.5 H. Bowman 2nd - Gathering
5th 10 Oct 2009 Caulfield Guineas Caulfield G1 1600 m 55.5 M. Rodd 1st - Starspangledbanner
Won 24 Oct 2009 W S Cox Plate Moonee Valley G1 2040 m 49.5 G. Boss 2nd - Manhattan Rain
2nd 7 Nov 2009 Emirates Stakes Flemington G1 1600 m 53.5 G. Boss 1st - All American
2010–11 season as a four-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight (kg) Jockey Winner/2nd
Won 28 Aug 2010 Memsie Stakes Caulfield G2 1400 m 58.5 S. Arnold 2nd - Whobegotyou
Won 18 Sep 2010 Underwood Stakes Caulfield G1 1800 m 58 S. Arnold 2nd - Dariana
Won 9 Oct 2010 Yalumba Stakes Caulfield G1 2000 m 58 S. Arnold 2nd - Alcopop
Won 23 Oct 2010 W S Cox Plate Moonee Valley G1 2040 m 57.5 S. Arnold 2nd - Zipping
Won 30 Oct 2010 Mackinnon Stakes Flemington G1 2000 m 58 S. Arnold 2nd - Descarado
3rd 2 Nov 2010 Melbourne Cup Flemington G1 3200 m 56 S. Arnold 1st - Americain
2011 season as a five-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight Jockey Winner/2nd
Won 2 May 2011 Mooresbridge Stakes Curragh G3 2000 m 60 S. Heffernan 2nd - Bob le Beau
Won 22 May 2011 Tattersalls Gold Cup Curragh G1 2100 m 57.5 R. Moore 2nd - Campanologist
2nd 15 Jun 2011 Prince of Wales's Stakes Ascot G1 2000 m 57 R. Moore 1st - Rewilding
Won 2 Jul 2011 Eclipse Stakes Sandown Park G1 2000 m 60.5 S. Heffernan 2nd - Workforce
Won 3 Sep 2011 Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown G1 2000 m 60.5 kg S. Heffernan 2nd - Snow Fairy
4th 2 Oct 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Longchamp G1 2400 m 59.5 kg S. Heffernan 1st - Danedream
2nd 15 Oct 2011 British Champion Stakes Ascot G1 2000 m 129 lb R. Moore 1st - Cirrus des Aigles
6th 5 Nov 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic Churchill Downs G1 1¼ miles 126 lb R. Moore 1st - Drosselmeyer
2012 season as a six-year-old
Result Date Race Venue Group Distance Weight Jockey Winner/2nd
4th 31 Mar 2012 Dubai World Cup Meydan G1 2000m 126 lb J. O' Brien 1st - Monterosso
Won 27 May 2012 Tattersalls Gold Cup Curragh G1 2100 m 129 lb J. O' Brien 2nd - Famous Name
Won 20 June 2012 Prince of Wales's Stakes Ascot G1 2000 m 126 lb J. O' Brien 2nd - Carlton House

Stud record

[edit]

So You Think served as a shuttle stallion in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres for Coolmore Stud.

Notable progeny

[edit]

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major wins
2013 Inference c Randwick Guineas
2013 La Bella Diosa f New Zealand 1000 Guineas
2013 So Si Bon g Eclipse Stakes (MRC), Aurie's Star Handicap
2014 D'Argento c Rosehill Guineas
2014 Sopressa f Australasian Oaks
2015 Knights Order g Sydney Cup
2015 Nakeeta Jane f Surround Stakes
2015 Think It Over g George Ryder Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Verry Elleegant Stakes
2016 Nimalee f Queen of the Turf Stakes
2016 Quick Thinker c Australian Derby
2017 Palaisapan f Tattersall's Tiara
2018 Think About It g Kingsford Smith Cup, Stradbroke Handicap
2021 You Wahng f Queensland Oaks

Death

[edit]

So You Think died near Coolmore's Australian stud farm at the Scone Equine Hospital, in October 2025, at the age of 18, after succumbing to a short illness.[19]

Honours

[edit]

So You Think was rated equal Champion Intermediate (Middle Distance) Turf Performer in the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings along with Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco, by the International Federation of Horse Authorities. He was also rated Champion Extended Distance Performer for his 3rd in the 2010 Melbourne Cup.[20]

Pedigree

[edit]
Pedigree of So You Think (NZ)
Sire
High Chaparral (Ire)
1999 		Sadler's Wells (USA)
1981 		Northern Dancer (Can)
1961 		Nearctic (Can)
Natalma (USA)
Fairy Bridge (USA)
1975 		Bold Reason (USA)
Special (USA)
Kasora (Ire)
1993 		Darshaan (GB)
1981 		Shirley Heights (GB)
Delsy (Fr)
Kozana (GB)
1982 		Kris (GB)
Koblenza (Fr)
Dam
Triassic (NZ)
1990 		Tights (USA)
1981 		Nijinsky (Can)
1967 		Northern Dancer (Can)
Flaming Page (Can)
Dancealot (USA)
1971 		Round Table (USA)
Music Please (USA)
Astral Row (NZ)
1979 		Long Row (GB)
1970 		Linacre (Ire)
Front Row (GB)
Pak Bun Bay (Aus)
1970 		Matinee Idol (Aus)
Philipolo (NZ)

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

So You Think

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
So You Think (10 November 2006 – 20 October 2025) was a New Zealand-bred racehorse, majority-owned by of . Foaled at Windsor Park Stud in , he was sired by out of the mare and purchased for NZ$110,000 as a yearling in 2008. Trained initially by in and later by Aidan O’Brien in , So You Think had a distinguished racing career with 14 wins from 23 starts, earning A$10,749,800 in prize money. His major victories included back-to-back Cox Plates in 2009 and 2010, Australia's premier weight-for-age championship, as well as the Tattersalls Gold Cup in 2011 and 2012, and the in 2011. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2019. Retired to stud in 2013, So You Think became a successful shuttle for Coolmore, siring Group 1 winners such as Think It Over and Altivo. He died on 20 October 2025 at age 18 from a short illness while under care at Equine Hospital in .

Background

Breeding and early ownership

So You Think was bred at Stud in , and foaled on November 10, 2006. He was sired by the Irish champion , a Sadler's Wells who won the 2002 and , out of the mare , a winning daughter of and winner of the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic. produced ten foals, all of which raced, nine winners, with So You Think emerging as her standout performer. As a yearling, So You Think was consigned by Stud to the 2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for NZ$110,000 by bloodstock agent Duncan Ramage on behalf of Malaysian owner Dato' Tan Chin Nam. The bay colt entered the ownership of Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stable, with Tunku Ahmad Yahaya as a co-owner, and was promptly transported to for pre-training and breaking. Following his arrival in , So You Think was sent to the of legendary trainer in , where he underwent initial preparation ahead of his racing debut. Ownership remained with Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stable until November 2010, when a half-share was sold to in a arrangement to facilitate his transfer to Europe for the 2011 season under trainer . This partnership allowed Coolmore to manage his international campaign while retaining Dato' Tan Chin Nam's involvement.

Physical attributes and initial training

So You Think was a bay horse, though often appearing as a dark brown or nearly black due to his deep coat coloration. His conformation was widely praised for its strength and balance, with legendary trainer Bart Cummings describing him as "perfection on four legs, you don't get any better than him." This robust build contributed to his powerful stride, which became evident in early workouts and helped establish his reputation for stamina and speed. In terms of temperament, So You Think exhibited a calm and composed demeanor from a young age, earning descriptions as an "absolute gentleman" who was "incredibly kind and intelligent." This even-keeled nature made him responsive and easy to handle during initial phases of preparation, allowing handlers to focus on developing his natural athleticism without behavioral challenges. Coolmore Stud's Tom Magnier later highlighted these traits as key to the horse's adaptability across demanding training regimens. So You Think entered training under , the renowned Australian trainer known for his meticulous methods. Cummings, who oversaw the colt's preparatory phase for owner Dato Tan Chin Nam, emphasized patient development to build on his inherent potential. Early workouts focused on honing gate speed and endurance, with the horse showing immediate promise in barrier trials that foreshadowed his competitive prowess. These sessions, conducted away from public scrutiny to maintain focus, marked the beginning of a structured program that transitioned the young toward his racing debut.

Racing career

Australian seasons (2008–2011)

So You Think commenced his racing career in Australia under the guidance of legendary trainer Bart Cummings. Making his debut as a two-year-old on May 20, 2009, he won a 1400m handicap at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. He followed with a second in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Randwick in September before winning the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill later that month. In October, he finished fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield before a breakthrough victory in the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, defeating Manhattan Rain by 2.8 lengths in a time of 2:03.98 with jockey Glen Boss aboard. He closed the season with a second in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November. As a three-year-old in the 2010 autumn, So You Think resumed with a win in the Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in March by 2.8 lengths under . Returning in the spring, he won the Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in August by 1.8 lengths with Arnold riding, followed by the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield in September by 3.3 lengths. He then captured the Yalumba Stakes again before a second Cox Plate victory at Moonee Valley on October 23, defeating Zipping by 3.3 lengths in 2:02.29 with Arnold, becoming the third horse to win consecutively. Three days later, on October 30, he won the LKS Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington by 2.6 lengths. Just three days after that, on November 2, he placed third in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington, beaten 2.1 lengths by Americain and ahead of Maluckyday, in his first try at the distance. Over his Australian career from 2009 to 2010, So You Think recorded 12 starts for 9 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third, including five Group 1 victories, all under Cummings' training with principal jockeys including Michael Rodd, Boss, and Arnold. His domestic earnings exceeded A$7.5 million as of 2010, reflecting his profound impact on Australian before transitioning overseas.

European seasons (2011–2012)

Following his dominant performances in , So You Think was acquired by in a deal reported at A$25 million in late 2010 and shipped to to join Aidan O'Brien's stable for a northern hemisphere campaign. The transition presented challenges typical for southern hemisphere horses, including adjustment to softer European turf conditions and the physical demands of international travel, though O'Brien noted the stallion's quick adaptation to the routine. So You Think's 2011 five-year-old season began with a commanding victory in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes (2000m) at the Curragh on May 2, winning by 12 lengths under jockey Seamie Heffernan. He followed with a Group 1 win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m) at the Curragh on May 22 by 4.5 lengths with Ryan Moore aboard. In the Prince of Wales's Stakes (2000m) at Royal Ascot on June 15, he finished second, beaten a neck by Rewilding under Moore. Heffernan then guided him to victory in the Eclipse Stakes (2000m) at Sandown on July 2 by half a length over Workforce. Sent off as the favorite in the Juddmonte International (2000m) at York on August 17, So You Think finished a close second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Twice Over under Moore. He rebounded in the Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) at Leopardstown on September 3, holding off Snow Fairy by half a length with Heffernan riding on yielding ground. Later that autumn, he finished fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at Longchamp on October 2 under Heffernan, then second by a neck to Cirrus des Aigles in the Champion Stakes (2000m) at Ascot on October 15 with Moore. The season culminated in a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (2000m) on dirt at Churchill Downs on November 5 under Moore. In 2012 as a six-year-old, So You Think opened with a fourth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (2000m) on synthetic surface at Meydan on March 31, beaten four lengths by Monterosso under Joseph O'Brien. He returned to form with a dominant six-length win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m) at the Curragh on May 27, again with Joseph O'Brien aboard. He extended his European Group 1 tally with a 2.25-length triumph in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (2000m) at Royal Ascot on June 20, fending off Carlton House under the younger O'Brien, marking his final start. Post-race checks revealed lameness from a pulled muscle in his hindquarters, prompting O'Brien to retire the horse on July 5 to preserve his wellbeing for stud duties; he was scratched from a planned Eclipse Stakes entry two days later. Although a matchup with Australian sprinter Black Caviar had been anticipated, it did not materialize due to the injury. Across his two European seasons from 2011 to 2012, So You Think had 11 starts for 5 wins and 3 seconds (plus other placings), adding five Group 1 victories to his tally and amassing approximately €4 million in earnings through his high-profile performances, elevating Australian bloodstock's global reputation. Overall career: 23 starts, 14 wins, 10 Group 1s.

Race record and statistics

Detailed race results

The detailed race results for So You Think are presented in the following chronological table, compiled from official racing records.
DateRace NameTrackDistanceFinishing PositionJockeyTrainer
20 May 20092YO Newmarket HandicapRHIL1400m1st of 12Blake ShinnJ. Cummings
5 Sep 2009Listed Quality HandicapRAND1400m2nd of 9G. SchofieldJ. Cummings
19 Sep 2009G3 Gloaming StakesRHIL1800m1st of 10J. Cummings
10 Oct 2009G1 Caulfield GuineasCAUL1600m5th of 11Michael RoddJ. Cummings
24 Oct 2009G1 MV2040m1st of 13Glen BossJ. Cummings
7 Nov 2009G1 Emirates StakesFLEM1600m2nd of 15Michael RoddJ. Cummings
28 Aug 2010G2 Memsie StakesCAUL1400m1st of 11J. Cummings
18 Sep 2010G1 Underwood StakesCAUL1800m1st of 11J. Cummings
9 Oct 2010G1 Caulfield StakesCAUL2000m1st of 6J. Cummings
23 Oct 2010G1 MV2040m1st of 10J. Cummings
30 Oct 2010G1 Mackinnon StakesFLEM2000m1st of 12J. Cummings
2 Nov 2010G1 FLEM3200m3rd of 23J. Cummings
2 May 2011G3 Mooresbridge StakesCURR2000m1st of 6Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
22 May 2011G1 Tattersalls Gold CupCURR2100m1st of 5Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
15 Jun 2011G1 ASC2000m2nd of 7Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
2 Jul 2011G1 Coral-Eclipse StakesSAND2000m1st of 5Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
3 Sep 2011G1 LEOP2000m1st of 6Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
2 Oct 2011G1 LCHP2400m4th of 16Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
15 Oct 2011G1 ASC2000m2nd of 7Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
5 Nov 2011G1 CD2400m2nd of 12 (promoted from 3rd after DQ of winner)Ryan MooreA. O'Brien
31 Mar 2012G1 MEYD2000m4th of 13 O'BrienA. O'Brien
27 May 2012G1 Tattersalls Gold CupCURR2000m1st of 5 O'BrienA. O'Brien
20 Jun 2012G1 ASC2000m1st of 11 O'BrienA. O'Brien

Career performance summary

So You Think concluded his racing career with an impressive record of 23 starts, 14 wins, 4 seconds, and 1 third, achieving a 61% win rate and amassing total earnings of A$9,030,258. Among these victories were 10 Group 1 races, comprising 5 in and 5 in , highlighting his versatility across international competition. The horse earned a rating of 133, a mark that positioned him as one of the elite middle-distance turf performers of his generation, though surpassed by contemporaries like the unbeaten Frankel, rated at 140. So You Think excelled particularly in middle-distance events from 1600m to 2400m, adapting successfully to diverse turf conditions in and , including good-to-firm and yielding ground.

Post-racing life

Retirement and stud career

So You Think was retired from racing in July 2012 at the age of five after sustaining an that led to his withdrawal from his intended final start in the at Park, following his victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. He transitioned immediately to the breeding shed as a shuttle , dividing his time between in Ireland for the season and Coolmore Australia for the season. This arrangement also extended to , where he stood at Coolmore's affiliate Stud during the southern breeding period. His inaugural Southern Hemisphere stud fee was set at A$66,000 (plus GST) for the 2012/2013 season at Coolmore , reflecting high expectations for his progeny based on his racing achievements. In the , he debuted at Coolmore in 2013 with a fee of €17,500. Fees varied across locations and years, with fees in rising to a peak of A$99,000 (inc. GST) in 2023 before later adjustments to A$77,000 for 2024; in , the fee was lowered to €12,500 by 2015 amid market dynamics. These rates positioned him as a premium but accessible option for breeders seeking his genetic influence from . The shuttling logistics required rigorous protocols, including mandatory periods in both hemispheres to prevent disease transmission, allowing him to cover up to 150-200 mares annually across sites. So You Think demonstrated solid rates, contributing to multiple crops by 2018, with his operations emphasizing careful management to sustain his health during travel and service. By the end of the 2018 breeding season, he had established a substantial legacy in the , where his larger books reflected strong demand from Australian and breeders. So You Think died on October 20, 2025, at the age of 19, after succumbing to a short illness while under veterinary care at Coolmore .

Progeny achievements

So You Think proved a highly successful sire, particularly in , where his progeny achieved significant success in elite racing. Among his standout offspring is Sopressa, a 2014 out of Hidden Strings, who won the Australasian Oaks in 2017 at Morphettville, securing victory in the 2000m classic for three-year-old fillies and earning over A$600,000 in prizemoney. Another notable performer, So Si Bon, a 2013 out of Black Minx, recorded nine wins from 95 starts, including Group 3 victories in the Aurie's Star Handicap (2019) and Lord Stakes (2018), amassing more than A$2.3 million in earnings over a versatile career spanning sprints to middle distances. Think It Over, a 2015 colt from the Zabeel mare Personal Service, emerged as one of So You Think's flagship sons, capturing multiple Group 1 titles including the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, the 2023 Australian Cup at Flemington, and the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick that same year, with career earnings exceeding A$8.4 million from 14 wins. Similarly, Think About It, a 2018 colt out of Tiare, dominated sprint races with three Group 1 triumphs in 2023: the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm, and The Everest at Randwick, where he set a track record and boosted his earnings to over A$12.1 million from 11 victories before retiring in 2024 following an injury. More recent progeny continued to uphold So You Think's legacy, with You Wahng winning the Queensland Oaks in 2025 at Eagle Farm, marking another classic success for the just months before his passing. As of October 2025, So You Think had sired 66 stakes winners, including 12 individual victors, with total progeny earnings surpassing A$100 million globally. His influence elevated him to runner-up status in the Australian sires' premiership on two occasions, reflecting strong performance both domestically and through his shuttling to , where select offspring contributed to black-type successes. In the 2024-2025 seasons, his runners added over A$6.7 million in stakes earnings, highlighted by wins in feature events like the Seven Stakes.

Honors and legacy

Racing awards

So You Think received several prestigious awards recognizing his dominance in Australian and international during his active from 2009 to 2012. These accolades highlighted his exceptional performances in key weight-for-age and middle-distance events, particularly his back-to-back victories in Australia's premier race, the W.S. Cox Plate, in 2009 and 2010. In the 2009-2010 Australian racing season, So You Think was named the Australian Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding, an honor bestowed by the for his outstanding performances as a three-year-old, including his breakthrough win in the W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse. This marked him as the top performer in his age and gender category, underscoring his rapid rise under trainer . The following season, 2010-2011, saw So You Think earn the title of Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse, again from the Australian Thoroughbred Racing Awards, reflecting his supremacy over distances of 1400m to 2000m. This award was secured through victories such as his second Cox Plate win and the L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes, solidifying his status as Australia's leading middle-distance talent before his transfer to . His consecutive Cox Plate triumphs in 2009 and 2010 positioned So You Think as the Horse of the Year for the event, a recognition of his mastery in the 2040m weight-for-age classic that is often regarded as the "weight-for-age championship of the world." As the first three-year-old to win since and the only horse to defend the title successfully in that period, these performances earned him iconic status within the race's history. Upon relocating to Aidan O'Brien's stable in 2011, So You Think garnered European middle-distance honors through the World Thoroughbred Rankings, coordinated by the British Horseracing Authority and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. He was rated at 126 pounds, tying for seventh overall and placing among the elite in the intermediate (middle-distance) category for turf performers that year, based on wins including the Tattersalls Gold Cup and . This rating affirmed his transition to international competition at the highest level.

Hall of Fame recognition

So You Think was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2016, recognizing his exceptional racing career as a New Zealand-bred who achieved international success. The induction highlighted his contributions to the region's thoroughbred industry, where he was foaled, and celebrated his status as a champion who transcended borders with victories in , , , and . In 2019, So You Think earned induction into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, honoring his dominance in Australian racing, including back-to-back wins in the Cox Plate in 2009 and 2010 under trainer . This accolade acknowledged his record of 14 wins from 23 starts, comprising 10 victories, and his role in elevating the prestige of Australian on the global stage. He was inducted alongside fellow equine legends Vo Rogue, Balmerino, and Hall Mark, underscoring his place among Australia's all-time greats. So You Think died on October 20, 2025, at age 19 after a short illness. These dual honors reflect So You Think's profound impact as both a racer and , with the and Australian halls serving as premier institutions dedicated to preserving the legacy of excellence in their respective countries.

Pedigree and ancestry

Immediate pedigree

So You Think (foaled 10 November 2006) was a dark or brown bred in by M.J. Moran and the Piper Farm Partnership. He was sired by the Irish champion (IRE), a foaled in 1999 and produced from the Sadler's Wells mare Kasora (IRE). was a top-class middle-distance performer trained by , achieving 10 wins from 13 starts, including four victories: the 2002 (1m4f), (1m4f), (1m4f at ), and the 2003 (1m2f at ) as well as a second win (1m4f at Santa Anita). His career earnings exceeded £3.4 million, and he was retired to in Ireland, where he became a leading sire with notable progeny beyond So You Think. So You Think's dam was , a mare foaled in 1990 and by the American stallion Tights (USA) out of the mare Astral Row (NZ). , owned by Cecile C.R. Smith, showed black-type ability on the track in , securing victories in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) and the Listed Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) as a three-year-old. She produced several stakes performers besides So You Think, including the Group 1 winner C'Est La Guerre, contributing to a strong family line noted for middle-distance success in and . The mating of to combined European Classic stamina with black-type speed and soundness, underpinning So You Think's versatility across distances from 1400m to 2500m.

Family influences

So You Think's dam, , exerted a significant influence on his development as a racehorse, having herself been a talented performer on the track in . Foaled in 1990, Triassic won the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic over 2000 meters at Te Rapa in 1994 and placed in several other black-type events, including a second in the Group 3 Royal Stakes, demonstrating the stamina and class that would characterize her offspring. Her racing record, with three wins from six starts and earnings of NZ$96,425, highlighted the potential of her lineage for middle-distance success, a trait evident in So You Think's victories in races like the Cox Plate. Triassic's breeding produced a small but influential family, with So You Think as her standout performer. She was named Broodmare of the Year in both 2011 and 2012, largely due to his achievements, underscoring the dam's genetic contribution to his exceptional talent. Among her other foals, a full sister by was produced in 2011, though unraced, and a half-sister, La Souvenir (by Nuclear Freeze), went on to produce further generations but did not race prominently herself. A three-quarter brother to So You Think, also by out of La Souvenir, was offered at sales but achieved limited racing success. These siblings, while not matching So You Think's accomplishments, reinforced the family's aptitude for producing sound, athletic individuals suited to high-level competition. On the damsire side, (by Nijinsky II) provided a strong foundation of speed and versatility, having been a leading sire in during the 1990s. Imported from the , where he won the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (G1), Tights sired 50 stakes winners, including victors like Tartan Tights (New Zealand International Stakes, G1) and Dopff (New Zealand Oaks, G1), contributing to the family's reputation for producing durable stayers with international potential. This influence from the male line through Nijinsky II likely enhanced So You Think's ability to excel over distances from 1600 to 2500 meters, blending European classic stamina with New Zealand toughness. Further back in the pedigree, Triassic's dam, Astral Row (by Row Of Waves), added depth to the family with her own unraced status but as a producer of winners, including stakes-placed horses in . The broader maternal line traces to influential branches like Family 5-i, known for endowing progeny with resilience and adaptability, as seen in related mares producing Group winners in . Analysis of the pedigree reveals multiple strains to the foundational sire Herod within five generations, which research links to enhanced efficiency and —key factors in superior performance for horses like So You Think.

References

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