Legendary trainer Bart Cummings is reportedly devastated after discovering his superstar four-year-old So You Think has been sold to racing powerhouse Coolmore Stud, set to head overseas to race in Europe.
The son of High Chaparral captured the hearts of Australian racing fans this season, becoming the youngest horse in history to win back to back Cox Plates before a finishing a gallant third in the Melbourne Cup at just his 12th career start last Tuesday.
Owner of So You Think and long term friend of Cummings, Dato Tan Chin Nam is now under fire after keeping Cummings and others in the dark over his sale of the $5.7 million earner to international breeding and racing giant Coolmore Stud.
The move has enraged the Australian racing industry, the reported $60 million sale already tagged as a ‘national tragedy’.
So You Think is unlikely to ever grace the Australian turf again, with a European racing career starting early next year already in the works.
“So You Think’s best days were ahead of him, he was potentially the best horse I’ve ever trained – probably was the best – but he won’t get the chance to prove in now, not for me anyway,” said a sad Cummings.
The extraordinary racing achievements of So You Think speak for themselves, the champion galloper having won eight of his 12 career starts for $5,734,350 in prize money.
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, Coolmore’s leading trainer, is set to take over the preparation of So You Think.
Coolmore have already named next year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France as a target for So You Think.
