So You Think set to stay in training
The Aidan O’Brien-trained five-year-old has won three Group Ones since his arrival from Australia, but could only finish fourth in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
However, Ballydoyle’s giant entire still looks poised to remain in competitive action next season.
Magnier said: “The horse has shown no signs that he is ready to go to stud.
“You can’t take anything away from the horse. In the closing stages he kept fighting. He fought on and on and on.
“We are disappointed he didn’t finish closer, but there is still plenty of horse to go on with.
“We think this horse can keep keep winning these Group 1 races. The trainer thinks there is a hell of a lot in the horse’s tank.
“Let’s get this season out of the way and I’d say we’d probably continue into next season.”
So You Think might also run again this term, with the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week still a live possibility.
Queen Elizabeth’s Carlton House has been effectively ruled out of the Qipco Champion Stakes.
A weekend gallop in the hands of Ryan Moore, witnessed by the Queen’s racing manager John Warren, raised hopes that the beaten Investec Derby favourite might return to the track for the British Champions Day showpiece.
However, Warren more or less dashed them yesterday. “It’s unlikely that he’ll run,” he said. “Taking everything into account I think we’ll leave him until next year.
Dream Ahead is “highly doubtful” to remain in training next season, according to trainer David Simcock.
The exceptional colt secured the fifth Group One of a dramatic career at Longchamp on Sunday when edging out Goldikova in the Qatar Prix de la Foret.
But having already been sold to Ballylinch Stud in Ireland, the three-year-old appears to have reached the end of the line as a racehorse.
“Dream Ahead raced as well as he has ever done,” the Newmarket handler told his website, www.davidsimcock.co.uk.
“It was a lifetime best for the horse.
“It is still undecided if he will run again. That is a decision for his new connections.
“It is highly doubtful that he will stay in training next year, but it’s totally their call.”
Charles O’Brien has yet to decide whether Bewitched will see a racecourse again.
Although no match for Dream Ahead and Goldikova, the four-year-old filly was far from disgraced in finishing fourth.
O’Brien believes more conservative tactics could have seen her finish a place closer.
Whatever happens, this will be Bewitched’s final season in training.
“She seems to have come out of the race fine and I was happy with the way she ran,” said the Co Kildare handler.
“If we’d ridden her differently we would probably have finished third, but we rode her to win.
“I’m not sure what we’ll do with her next. She’s entered at Ascot (Qipco British Champions Sprint, October 15) and there is also a possible race for her at Woodbine, but we’ll just see how she is.”
