So You Think
So You Think wins third Group One with victory in the Irish Champion Stakes in Leopardstown.
The Australian import, who joined Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle operation earlier this year, had already landed the Coral-Eclipse and the Tattersalls Gold Cup this season.
But after he went off as the 1-4 favourite under Seamie Heffernan, he had to work hard before getting the better of 6-1 shot Snow Fairy.
Famous Name finished back in third.
It was a sixth win in the last nine years in the race for O’Brien after High Chaparral (2003), Oratorio (2005), Dylan Thomas (2006, 2007) and Cape Blanco (2010).
The winner’s stablemate Roderic O’Connor made the early running but So You Think and Snow Fairy were well in touch.
The winner made his move as they turned for home and took the lead with two furlongs to go but Snow Fairy, ridden by Frankie Dettori, challenged strongly but So You Think went on to win by half a length.
Meanwhile, the 4-1 favourite Dream Ahead emerged victorious in a photo-finish to win the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.
William Buick’s mount, who had won the July Cup at Newmarket under Hayley Turner, had disappointed in France last time out.
This time the three-year-old went into the lead into the final furlong but started to hang as the line approached.
But he managed to get the better of Bated Breath by a nose with Hoof It another head away in third.
Although a stewards’ inquiry was later called, the result was unaltered.
