So You Think's opportunity to shine at Royal Ascot

Carlton House will pose a challenge for Australian horse.

So You Think is running at Royal Ascot.
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So You Think has struggled to convince racegoers of his immense ability, but Aidan O'Brien's Australian import appears to have an easy task in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Last season, So You Think could not contain the surge of Rewilding in the 10-furlong contest as Frankie Dettori urged the Godolphin colt to victory with heavy use of the whip.

So You Think's woes are not limited to his races in Europe. The Coolmore horse also faltered at the Breeders' Cup in November when he was sixth at Churchill Downs, and then again when he had no answer to the twin-pronged attack of Godolphin in the World Cup at Meydan in March, when Monterosso and Capponi humbled him.

Rewilding had won the Dubai Sheema Classic prior to edging out So You Think, but this year's victor, Cirrus Des Aigles, was scratched from the Group One event on Monday in favour of a race in France.

With Monterosso also skipping the race, it is up to Carlton House, Queen Elizabeth II's horse, to challenge the stallion.

"He seems to have come on from his run at the Curragh OK and we're hoping for a good run," said Joseph O'Brien, the six-year-old's jockey. "Carlton House had a nice start to the year and looks the one to beat."

The action commences with the Jersey Stakes, in which Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Aljamaaheer faces 25 rivals in the seven-furlong event. After the connections of Bated Breath and Ortensia blamed the going at Ascot for their defeats in the King's Stand Stakes yesterday, Aljamaaheer's trainer Roger Varian was another keeping an eye on the forecast.

sports@thenational.ae

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