So You Think's third Cox Plate still in doubt because of quarantine issues

Discussions are continuing with Coolmore about whether or not a third tilt at the Cox Plate remains a realistic option for So You Think.

The $3,000,000 Group 1 at Moonee Valley in October is still on the table at the moment but only if quarantine issues can be rectified in the near future.

The current sticking point is that Australian quarantine officials are rejecting the use of the Ballydoyle stable facilities as being suitable.

While Coolmore is the controlling share holder in So You Think and will eventually make the final decision, his owner while in Australia ,Dato Tan Chin Nam, still has a sizeable stake.

“There are no real developments at the moment, it’s still at the talking stage and, of course, Coolmore will have the final say on plans for the horse,” Dato Tan’s racing and bloodstock manager Duncan Ramage said.

“The quarantine issue would have to be overcome and if he were to return you would be giving up races like the Arc, the Breeders’ Cup and the new race at Ascot (Champion Stakes).

“He would have to go into quarantine on September 15, so he could run in the Irish Champion on September 3 and a decision be taken after that.

“When he was here he had races like (the Cox Plate) on his doorstep, but now he has other viable options.”

Those other viable options have come to fruition after So You Think managed to beat star English horse Workforce over 2000m in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Previous to that he succumbed to a shock defeat at the hands of Rewilding in the Prince Of Wales Stakes.

“He was really well ridden by Seamus Heffernan, he was very cool and was prepared to sit and wait until the furlong (200m) marker,” Ramage said.

“He beat last year’s best middle-distance horse fair and square on the day, and at a testing track like Sandown.

“Some people were saying he should have won by more, but you are never going to beat a horse like Workforce easily.”