Heffernan must get So You Think ride in Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Published:Aidan O’Brien is keeping his cards close to his chest in terms of jockeys for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but if he truly believes that So You Think can stay 1m4f at Longchamp, then Seamie Heffernan almost certainly has to take the ride.
Heffernan may not be the most high-profile or well-known jockey to be in contention to ride So You Think, but his record on board the five-year-old is faultless to date.
It seems hard to believe that O’Brien would consider anyone else given that Heffernan has ridden So You Think in three of his five races since the horse arrived at the trainer’s yard, winning on every occasion.
After the latest round of declarations, O’Brien still has six of the 18 runners in the Arc field, but it is highly likely that Wonder Of Wonders and Regent Street will be removed, while there are also uncertainties about Seville and Treasure Beach.
O’Brien has numerous jockey options at his disposal, with his son Joseph almost certain to ride one of his contenders, while Mickael Barzalona seems available, unless Andre Fabre decides to supplement one of his horses late.
Barzalona won the Derby on Pour Moi and it could be argued that a similar type of ride would reap the best rewards on So You Think, although this could also work on St Nicholas Abbey, who is currently 25/1 in the Arc betting.
Kieren Fallon is unlikely to ride So You Think given his previous fall out with O’Brien, but he believes the horse is the one that the majority of riders would want to be on in the Arc.
He said in his Racing Post Weekender column: “Let’s not beat around the bush, if you asked every jockey riding in the race who they would want to ride, I’ll bet 90 per cent would say So You Think and I am one of them.”
So You Think has shortened after the latest round of declarations to 4/1 in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe odds.
