Another step up for So You Think
The New Zealand-bred five-year-old switched to the care of Aidan O’Brien over the winter and has won both his starts in Ireland in ultra-impressive fashion, including the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time.
Five times a Group One winner in Australia, So You Think will try to maintain his 100% record in Europe in the mile-and-a-quarter showpiece.
“He hadn’t done anything serious at home and we had just been playing with him at home for his first two starts,” O’Brien said.
“He’s had two easy runs, and his work has been getting a little bit more serious since, so it will be interesting to see.
“Obviously we were very happy with him at the Curragh in the Tattersalls, but this will be another jump up with more serious contenders to run against him, so it will be interesting.”
Ryan Moore takes the ride for the second time, having partnered the huge colt in the second of his races on the Curragh.
O’Brien told At The Races: “The reason Ryan rode him at the Curragh was that he gave the lads (at Coolmore) a commitment that he would ride at Ascot.
“The best place to get to know him was in a race and that’s why he rode him.
“He is a big cruiser so it’s hard to say what his exact trip is. We’ve seen what he’s done, this is another step up and it’s something look forward to.”
The Godolphin-owned Rewilding is reported to be ready for a return to racecourse action after being given a break following his victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.
Although originally thought of primarily as a stayer – he went off favourite for last year’s St Leger and his big Dubai win was at a mile and a half - connections believe the drop to 10 furlongs could be in his favour.
“We like to go fresh to a race and I think he will run a big race in Ascot. We space his races because if we run him too soon, he doesn’t run a good race,” trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni said.
“We are dropping him back in trip which we think is the right thing for him at this stage of the season.
“He has the speed. We don’t know, but maybe he will be better at this trip. We’ll see what we’ve got.”
Twice Over was arguably an unlucky loser in the corresponding race 12 months ago when he got going all too late and failed to catch Byword, also owned by Khalid Abdullah.
After his narrow defeat at Ascot, Henry Cecil’s charge went on to win the Eclipse at Sandown and a second Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
Tom Queally has been an ever-present on the six-year-old since October 2008 and feels there were valid excuses for his last two defeats in the Dubai World Cup and the Lockinge.
“Twice Over looks to be slightly over-priced in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes,” said Queally.
“He was an arguably unlucky second in the race last year and I really think you can put a line through his last two runs.
“Nothing went right off a very muddling pace in the Dubai World Cup, and then the mile was too short for him last time in the Lockinge.
“This is his trip, he likes the course, and I still think he’s as good a horse as ever.
“So You Think has been heavily hyped after his impressive win last time in Ireland, but he will face much stiffer competition here from proven Group One performers.”
