Strong statement of intent from So You Think

O'Brien-trained six-year-old dominates the Gold Cup at the Curragh to win in style.

So You Think cantered home comfortably to win the Gold Cup.

So You Think edged closer to a clash with Frankel by winning the Gold Cup at the Curragh in Ireland yesterday.

The six year old, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by his son, Joseph, was barely troubled as he ran out a six-length winner from Famous Name, a nine-time Group Stakes victor.

The Group 1 contest, run over an extended 10 furlongs, was So You Think's first run since finishing fourth behind Monterosso in the Dubai World Cup in March and is the last time he will run in Ireland.

"This is the last time you'll see him in this country," his trainer said. "He had a good break since Dubai and Joseph was very happy with him.

"Training him has been an unbelievable experience and he has an unbelievable presence.

"He's an amazing horse - he's very unusual in that his mane and his tail grow twice as quick as any other horse, which means he has a wild look about him."

O'Brien underlined that So You Think's next outing would be at Royal Ascot in England, either in the Queen Anne Stakes on June 19, the first day of the Royal Meeting, or in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, the following day.

Frankel is set to race in the Queen Anne Stakes, but the two horses may also encounter each other in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Sandown Park in July. So You Think beat Workforce, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, in the contest last season and the 10-furlong race should be the horse's final start before he enters quarantine ahead of taking up stallion duties in Australia.

Also at the Curragh, Samitar won the Irish 2000 Guineas, sponsored by Etithad Airways, while Tidarbret triumphed in the President of the UAE Cup race by three quarters of a length from Chinaactic.

While So You Think was highlighting the strength of Dubai World Cup night form at the Curragh, Cirrus Des Aigles was letting it down in France.

The Dubai Sheema Classic winner had built up his reputation by following up his triumph in the US$5million (Dh18.36m) race at Meydan Racecourse by winning the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp last month.

Olivier Peslier looked to have stolen the race from the front aboard Cirrus Des Aigles with two furlongs to ride but he was ridden down and overhauled in the final 100 metres by Maxime Guyon on Golden Lilac. Planteur, who was third in the Dubai World Cup, filled the same place on his seasonal bow in Europe under Christophe Soumillon.

Follow us