Bart Cummings’ beaten Melbourne Cup favourite So You Think is unlikely to get another shot at winning the world’s richest handicap, but there are plenty of other big Group 1’s that the star galloper can assert his authority in, and of course there’s a third Cox Plate to win.
Spring superstar So You Think finished a gallant third in the 150th Melbourne Cup at Flemington yesterday, outstayed by runner-up Maluckyday and French-trained winner Americain.
It was a brave performance by a runner that many people said couldn’t last the gruelling 3200m distance, but although he got there in the end connections are not likely to run him over the testing length again.
There is also the fact that if So You Think were to be nominated for the Melbourne Cup next year, as a dual Cox Plate winner he would be too heavily handicapped to have a genuine chance.
So You Think has dominated the weight-for-age events this season with emphatic wins in races such as the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) leading up to his third in the Melbourne Cup.
Then there’s his imposing Cox Plate record, winning back-to-back editions at just his 10th career start earlier in the spring.
Really, the autumn is looking good for So You Think.
Weight-for-age features like the $1 million Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12 and the lucrative $2.5 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill in April are calling and his competition are already scared.
Next season if So You Think is still on the racing scene there is every chance he can emulate the mighty Kingston Town (1980,1981,1982) and become just the second horse in history to claim a Cox Plate hat-trick.
Yesterday’s Melbourne Cup run was certainly no disgrace.
So You Think bought his career record up to eight wins, two seconds and a third from just 12 starts for an incredible $5.7 million in prize money.
Cummings will give So You Think a well deserved rest now, sent to the spelling paddock before coming back in the autumn, and there’s already short odds on the Horse of the Year title for the star.
The Melbourne Cup may be over but the Spring Carnival is still in full swing.
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