So You Think Sold For A$60m

Tan Chin Nam and Tunku Ahmad Yahya came out way in front even though they did not win the Cup. Anyways, they would have had to share a paltry A$3.8m. Now they get to divvy up A$60m. Considering the horse only cost A$83,500 plus they great prizemoney it has won so far.



So You Think has almost certainly run his final race in this country after confirmation yesterday that global racing and breeding giant Coolmore Stud had purchased a majority share in the four-year-old that has valued him at an estimated $60 million. It makes So You Think comfortably Australia's most expensive racehorse.

Last Tuesday's Melbourne Cup favourite and third placegetter is expected to be sent to Ireland in the coming weeks to be prepared for a northern hemisphere campaign by Aidan O'Brien.

Tom Magnier, the racing and business manager of Coolmore Australia, said yesterday that there remained some details to sort through with the horse's owners but that it was likely So You Think would be raced in partnership with owners Dato Tan Chin Nam and Tunku Ahmad Yahaya.

''That is still to be finalised but he's [Chin Nam] a very lucky owner and we'd be happy to race the horse with him,'' Magnier said.

It is understood that Coolmore have identified So You Think as one of the world's best horses up to 2400 metres and are hoping to run him in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris in September.

It is possible that he could have a rematch in the Arc with Melbourne Cup winner Americain.

Magnier confirmed that So You Think was certain to return to Coolmore's Hunter Valley property in Australia each year as a shuttle stallion once his racing days are over.

So You Think is certain to be named the Australian Horse Of The Year despite the fact there are almost nine months of the season remaining following five incredible wins in succession in Melbourne this spring before his gallant third in last Tuesday's Cup.

Dato Tan Chin Nam's racing manager Duncan Ramage confirmed the sale last night: ''Coolmore would like to the race in the Europe and we would have to take that into consideration when working the detail,'' he said. ''Dato has always campaigned his horses in Australia and Bart is probably not in a position to campaign a horse overseas for a lengthy period of time.''

Ramage said that before So You Think flies to Ireland, he will return to Dato Tan Chin Nam's Think Big stud at Bowral in NSW.

Coolmore has a history of purchasing Australian horses as dual hemisphere stallions.

The stud paid $20 million to secure sprinter Choisir to stand in Ireland and the Hunter Valley following his group 1 wins in the King's Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2003.

Encosta De Lago also stood a season in Ireland after Coolmore purchased him but Haradasun, who was valued at $45 million when Coolmore bought into him, has only stood in the Hunter Valley.

More recently, Newmarket Handicap winner Fastnet Rock has stood in both hemispheres while Starspangledbanner, who cost Coolmore about $20 million, is due to stand in Ireland and in the Hunter Valley when his racing days are over.