MV OCT 23 - CUP’S KING ON TRACK AS SO YOU THINK GOES BACK TO BACK

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, October 24, 2010

Moonee Valley, October 23, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True. Penetrometer 4.61.
Cox Plate (Group 1) WFA - 2040m.
Time: 2-07.45. 600m Sectional: 34.92. (Carrying 57.5kg).
1 So You Think; 2 Zipping; 3 Whobegotyou.
Margins: 1.3L x 0.2L.

Master trainer Bart Cummings claimed his fifth Cox Plate when undisputed champion entire So You Think won his second Cox Plate in just ten racetrack starts.

So You Think etched his name into the record books by becoming the very first horse to win the nation’s premier Weight for Age race at age three and defend the crown the following year at four.

Cummings had won the event three times previously with Taj Rossi, Saintly and Dane Ripper, before So You Think claimed the latest two running’s of the event and brought a tear to the veteran trainer’s eye.

For heavy weight rider Steven Arnold, the win was a career defining moment, which stood far above all other achievements the 35 year old had achieved in his 17 years in the saddle.

Luck had deserted Arnold on numerous occasions in recent Spring Carnival’s with horses scratched or injured, or even through Arnold’s decision making, but the lanky hoop, affectionately known as ‘Chicken’, would succeed on the world’s greatest stage.

For So You Think, the win took his career stats to ten starts for seven wins, four Group 1’s and over $4.6 million in prizemoney. Very frightening numbers considering the stallion is only a four year old.

But this son of all conquering stallion High Chaparral is destined for greater things in his quest to become Cummings’ 13th Melbourne Cup winner. His next start will be in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes over 2000 metres on VRC Derby Day and then it is on to the race that stops the nation, the $6 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.

So You Think and Arnold were well into stride, but Arnold was cautious not to bustle the hotpot early and let the entire settle in second position down the running on the first occasion as the second favourite in the event More Joyous, was bounced straight to the front by Nash Rawiller.

Passing the post the first time around, So You Think had settled well, trailing More Joyous by a length and a half out of the straight.

Twelve lengths covered the field of Weight for Age stars down the side of the track. Passing the mile start, Trusting who missed the start a couple of lengths whipped the field in as he raced to the inside of Whobegotyou.

Jockey Nash Rawiller on the leader More Joyous slowed the field down to a crawl at the turn at the top of the track and the pair showed out by two lengths over So You Think who continued to race well within himself.

Tracking the favourite everywhere he went was the nine year old veteran Zipping. In his fourth Cox Plate, Zipping was looking to improve on his two placing’s in the feature event for regular rider Nick Hall.

More Joyous opened up her biggest lead of the event at the 1000 metre mark when she held a two length break over So You Think.

As soon as Rawiller had a margin over the entire, Arnold let the four year old slide up and close the margin to just three quarters of a length at the 800 metre pole.

The very moderate tempo allowed Arnold to surge forward and eyeball More Joyous 600 metres from home and So You Think poked his nose in front to the roar of the crowd.

With So You Think’s turn of foot, Arnold poured the pressure on and the entire field came off the bridle in an attempt to stay with the champ.

Arnold and So You Think shifted into another gear around the turn and inside the 400 metres and the pair raced three lengths in front of More Joyous and the break was big enough for the favourite combination to cut the corner and cross down to the fence.

Half a dozen backhands with the whip from Arnold ensured the valuable entire put the result beyond doubt inside the final furlong.

Entitled to get a little leg weary over the concluding stages after making a 600 metre run, So You Think raced into the record books with back to back Cox Plate victories.

Veteran Zipping ran his heart out to record his third placing in the event a length and a quarter back, but So You Think was sublime and scored to roars of the capacity Moonee Valley crowd.

Whobegotyou and Michael Rodd ran home gamely for third beaten a length and a half after racing in a rearward position throughout.

All honours with Sou You Think and jockey Steven Arnold. Although admitting that he didn’t have nerves prior to the running of the $3 million event, Arnold no doubt would have felt the pressure of the nation on his shoulders being onboard such a short priced favourite for the event for the past six weeks.

Arnold and So You Think stood tall on a day that champions do.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bart Cummings: “He did a good job, didn't he?

“He took on the speed and just out-paced them … what can you say?

“I think he's got a lot of ability and seems to handle it very successfully.

“Looks like we will go to the Melbourne Cup … we'll nominate for the Mackinnon and work it out.

“The Cox Plate’s been good to me lately … very good.

“It's hard to compare them all. They've all been champions really and there have been some very good ones, but I'd say this horse is up with the best at this stage.”

Jockey Steven Arnold: “Racing's a funny game, I don't know if you deserve anything, you've got to put yourself there.

“It's an unbelievable thrill … probably a little bit of a relief because he was such a hot favourite and you just want to let him show his best and not make any errors on him.

“It's a bit of a relief, but a huge thrill as well.

“I couldn't believe it today. I was very calm. I wasn't nervous at all. I didn't know how to feel about that, but I knew there was a lot of expectation on him and he's just a great horse and he showed his qualities today.

“I thought Wall Street would lob outside her and I might pop in behind him, but I think he bungled the start a little bit and she lobbed right on the speed.

“I cantered. I got there really easy early. I had a fairly soft time. I sort of waited for them to tackle a little bit earlier, but nothing had a go.

“I saw she was having a fairly easy trip so when we got down the side 600 metres out, I thought ‘I'm going to turn on the gas now'.

“It's a race where the strongest horse wins and he was that today.

“I got to the bottom of him. He had a bit of a look around on the corner, which he did last year as well, but he's an exceptional horse and I’m rapt to be on him.

“He got very stirred up today with the crowd, so that might settled him down a little bit. He's probably got to relax a little bit better again but never say never with this horse I don't think.”

BEATEN JOCKEY FEEDBACK:

Second - Nick Hall (Zipping): “He (Zipping) is a legend in his own right. So You Think is just too good, we ran into the next Phar Lap.”

Third - Michael Rodd (Whobegotyou): “Outstanding run. He ran right up to his best, but he ran into a freak.”

Fourth - Corey Brown (Shoot Out): “He ran really good. The tempo wasn't as quick as I thought it would be. He ran more like a Cups horse than a Cox Plate horse. He just kept coming today.”

Fifth - Nash Rawiller (More Joyous): “She travelled beautifully. I felt she was in her comfort zone at the 1000 metres but when the pace picked up it was So You Think who started to put the pressure on rather than her and I thought ‘we're in trouble here’ and he just sucked everything out of me from the half mile (800m) to the 400 (metre mark). Maybe it would have been better if I'd been on his back rather than the other way around.”

Sixth - Craig Williams (Avienus): “She ran a great race. She really did acquit herself well in that company.”

Seventh - Michael Coleman (Wall Street): “He just bombed the start a bit. He got back in an awkward spot and just kept grinding.”

Eighth - Glen Boss (Captain Sonador): “Never really travelled. From the 1000 metres he was on the wrong leg. He'll go to the Emirates Stakes now and be hard to beat.”

Ninth – Jim Cassidy (Trusting): “It was all over at the start when he didn't jump cleanly.”

Tenth - Dwayne Dunn (Luen Yat Forever): “It was a tough race. I was unable to make the speed any different, but you can't be too disappointed going against the best.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (So You Think):1.45 out to 1.50.
The winner was the favourite.

Horse to follow: Despite the moderate speed, So You Think settled well in second place and quickened when asked. Showing his customary turn of foot, So You Think put the event beyond doubt in a handful of strides. The Cummings’ galloper has a touch of Saintly about him with his early tactical speed, ability to relax in the run and let down when asked.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trusting reared as the start was affected and lost ground.

M Coleman (Wall Street (NZ)) was issued with a severe reprimand for permitting his mount to shift out near the 600m to avoid the heels of Luen Yat Forever which was giving ground and as a result Trusting was hampered.

Whobegotyou was held up rounding the home turn.

N Rawiller (More Joyous (NZ)) stated the mare pulled up well but the winner took all the energy out of her when he increased the tempo from the 800m.

M Coleman reported Wall Street (NZ) was unsettled by the big crowd. He added the gelding half wanted to rear just before the gates opened and for this reason was a bit slow out. He added nothing was able to take him into the race from the 700m.

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