Racing: Chance at pinnacle for NZ-bred galloper

Jockey Steven Arnold riding So You Think. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand-bred galloper So You Think gets his chance to create history and lift the profile of Australasian racing to a new level in Europe's most prestigious race.

The dual Cox Plate winner is set to run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) in France on Monday (NZT).

Duncan Ramage, racing manager for Dato Tan Chin Nam who sold a controlling interest in So You Think to Coolmore last spring, will be there to cheer him on.

No horse from Australasia has won the Arc, with Cambridge entire Balmerino coming the closest with a second place in 1977.

Since moving from Bart Cummings to Coolmore's trainer Aidan O'Brien in Ireland after the Melbourne Cup last year, So You Think has raced five times in Europe for four wins including three at group one level. He is considered one of the favourites for the Arc.

"It's the pinnacle of the European season in a way," Ramage said on Thursday. "We've never been fortuitous enough to have a horse good enough to be there, but we've got one good enough to be there this time and we're in it."

Malaysian tycoon Dato Tan has raced many great racehorses from Think Big to So You Think.

Ramage believes it would be great for Australasian racing if So You Think could win on Europe's biggest stage this weekend.

"He's a walking billboard for Australasian racing. He's New Zealand-bred and a product of our racing system. It's got to have upside all round, doesn't it."

- AAP