SO YOU THINK failed his biggest test in Europe so far when beaten a long neck in a thrilling finish by the Godolphin stable's Rewilding in this morning's Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The five year-old, now trained by Aidan O'Brien, was second behind his stable mate and pacemaker Jan Vemeer for much of the 2000 metre race, before his jockey Ryan Moore kicked four lengths clear of the field at the start of the home straight.
ALL sorts of feature stories have been written about one of the magical weeks of world racing the Royal Ascot carnival in Britain.
Here is a different perspective on the event from the eyes of LESLIE WILSON jnr, a feature writer for the GULF NEWS in DUBAI, which reads:
AS if anticipation for next week's Royal Ascot meeting was not enough, news emerged on Friday (Australian time) that Black Caviar, the unbeaten wonder mare of Australian racing, is on her way to the 2012 meeting.
TONY SMURTHWAITE reported for the RACING POST that The winner of 13 races, including six Group 1 contests, has yet to race outside Australia but such is her standing that overtures from Ascot and elsewhere have come thick and fast.
SO YOU THINK made an immediate impression on his European debut, winning the Mooresbridge Stakes overnight at The Curragh by ten lengths and is the 5-2 favorite for the King George at Ascot in July.
THE TELEGRAPH in London reported that Aidan O’Brien, his new trainer, described him as “an incredible specimen”.
AN investigation has been launched after two horses died in the paddock at Newbury in England amid fears they were electrocuted by underground cabling.
BBC SPORT reports that Fenix Two and Marching Song were due to feature in the day's opening race but collapsed. Another horse, Kid Cassidy, was withdrawn after stumbling.
The Merry Giant was affected but took part in the race, finishing last and said to be "badly traumatised".
Seven horses made it to the start but the last six races were abandoned.
Read more: ENGLISH race meeting abandoned after two starters electrocuted in the paddock
MARCUS ARMYTAGE reports in the LONDON TELEGRAPH that Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien is caution about over-hyping his horses until they have proved it on the racecourse these days.
However his advice, back in May, to Johnny Murtagh that he should go out to ride Australian import Starspangledbanner equipped with a ‘seat belt and parachute’ proved sagacious after the four-year-old led from start to finish in Saturday’s Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Read more: STARSPANGLEDBANNER wins Golden Jubilee for Aidan O'Brien
AFTER a miserable week thus far at Royal Ascot, the all-powerful Aidan O’Brien stable will have to rely on former Australian sprinter Starspangledbanner to restore some prestige in Saturday night’s (AET) Group 1 $A780,000 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m).
Now racing in the colours of Coolmore Stud after changing hands for $A10 million, this season’s Caulfield Guineas and Oakleigh Plate winner is one of the stable’s few remaining chances of Group 1 success at the famous UK carnival.
Read more: STARSPANGLED BANNER out to restore Aussie pride in UK
INTERNATIONAL trail-blazer Dermot Weld has unearthed another contender for this year’s historic 150th Emirates Melbourne Cup following last night’s (AET) win of Rite Of Passage in the prestigious Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) at Royal Ascot, UK.
“I suppose we’ll have to take him to Melbourne now,” Weld said immediately after the six-year-old delivered his first success in England’s most famous staying race.
THE Australian challenge at Royal Ascot in the UK got off to a disappointing start last night (AET) with Nicconi and Gold Trail finishing unplaced in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m).
Australia’s expected flag bearer in the second leg of the Global Sprint Challenge (GSC), Nicconi, made ground to finish fourth without ever looking a winning hope, while Gold Trail was always struggling and beat only two runners home.
Read more: AUSSIES disappoint in King's Stand Stakes in the UK
THE sixth leg of the Tatts Cox Plate WFA Global Championship is to take place on Wednesday 16 June at Royal Ascot with the running of the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes over 2000 metres.
Presvis returns to English soil after a long and ultimately frustrating global campaign, only highlighted by victory in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta at Meydan. Presvis will start an unaccustomed fourth favourite in the market (8/1), returning to Royal Ascot with Kieren Fallon aboard.
Read more: COX Plate Global Championship moves to ROYAL ASCOT