Royal Ascot 2012: So You Think Continues to Etch Place in History

Headed into Royal Ascot 2012, So You Think had placed 18 times in 22 career races with 13 victories.

On Wednesday in Ascot, Berkshire, he won again, turning in the best time in seven races since Ascot Racecourse was redeveloped in 2006. The five-year-old edged out the Queen's horse, Carlton House, in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes with a time of two minutes 3.86 seconds over 10 furlongs.

The Queen's horse ran an inspired race, actually dashing ahead of So You Think with two furlongs to go, but the move up the rail came too soon as So You Think outclassed Carlton House down the stretch. It was trainer Aidan O'Brien's 37th career victory at Royal Ascot. His son, Joseph O'Brien, recorded his first career win at Royal Ascot as a jockey.

What So You Think has done throughout his career has been remarkable. The record speaks for itself, but Wednesday's effort reminded us how dominant the horse has been all these years. The five-year-old was coming off a victory at the Weight for Age Stakes on May 27, this being his third race of the year. 

If there had to be one horse to upstage the Queen's Carlton House, it would be So You Think, who has etched his place in history at this point. It was a well-deserved win on Wednesday, and it adds to the thoroughbred's mystique.  

So You Think is expected to run again in the Eclipse at Sandown on July 7, and you would have to think he will be the clear-cut favorite there too. When you've built up a resume like this and continue to get it done against some worthy competition, the only thing that can you stop you is yourself.

So You Think still has plenty of races left in him, and he showed it in Ascot on Wednesday.