So You Think claimed his first Group 1 for Ballydoyle with a minimum of fuss in the Irish Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m) at the Curragh on Sunday.

So You Think (5h High Chaparral – Triassic by Tights) was ridden out hands and heels by Ryan Moore to score by over four lengths in a performance that stunned trainer Aidan O’Brien.  “He’s incredible – a different creature to what we’ve ever seen before and we’re just very lucky to have him racing on this side of the world this year.”

Bookmakers were quick to react by making So You Think a 2/1 favourite for the King George at Ascot on July 23 and a 7/2 favourite for the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 2.

Moore was equally impressed with the NZ bred super star.  “So You Think has a big, long stride that covers the same amount of ground most horses would take two strides to cover.  He travelled very well and was impressive when I asked him to go on.”

The G1 Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot on June 15 is the next race on the agenda for Ballydoyle’s new recruit.

So You Think joins Kiwi champions like Horlicks (NZ), Sunline (NZ), Starcraft (NZ) and Vengeance of Rain (NZ) who all carried the NZ suffix to Group 1 victories on the international stage.  

So You Think was bought by DGR Thoroughbreds on behalf of Dato Tan Chin Nam for $110,000 at the 2008 NZB Karaka Premier yearling sale.

The Bart Cummings trained colt won 8 of his 12 starts in Australia including two Cox Plates.  After finishing third in the 2011 Melbourne Cup, Dato Tan Chin Nam sold a controlling interest in him to Coolmore Stud.

So You Think had opened his European campaign with a facile 10 length victory in the G3 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on May 2.