Two-time Cox Plate champion dies just days before the race he dominated: 'You don't get any better than him'

The Australian racing industry is in mourning following the death of two-time Cox Plate winner So You Think.

After winning a staggering ten career Group 1 races, the legendary stallion was 19 and died following a short battle with illness. 

Coolmore Australia confirmed the development on Monday, just days before the staging of the iconic event So You Think won over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley in 2009 and 2010.

'He was an absolute gentleman, an incredibly kind and intelligent horse,' Coolmore principal Tom Magnier said in a statement.

'This is a sad day for all the staff that have looked after him so well since he retired in 2012.

'We are so lucky to have had him and watch him develop into one of the country's truly elite sires.

'He provided so many great memories on racetracks throughout the world as both a racehorse and a stallion.'

So You Think famously won back-to-back Cox Plates under the watchful eye of legendary Aussie trainer Bart Cummings.

The 12-time Melbourne Cup winner previously described the stallion as 'perfection on four legs', before also stating: 'You don't get any better than him. 

'He is the finest, most genuine horse I have ever trained.'

After winning his first five Group 1 races at Coolmore with Cummings, So You Think headed overseas where he snared another five major victories with Aiden O'Brien in Ireland.

In 2010, So You Think was the favourite for the Melbourne Cup, but finished third.

He won plenty of admirers at the time given it was his first time competing over 3200 metres at Flemington. 

Since being retired in 2012, the global champion sired 12 individual Group 1 winners, including 2023 The Everest winner Think About It and multiple Group 1 winner Think It Over.

So You Think was also inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.