How long does it take an Irishman to work out a horse’s optimum distance?

It is not a joke, it is champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s drawn out assessment of So You Think.

It appears the dual Cox Plate winner’s middle distance sojourns are to be restricted after he finished sixth to Drosselmeyer in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m, dirt) at the weekend.

“He’s run a great race and we are very happy with him,” O’Brien said.

“He’s a horse with a lot of speed, and we were probably going the wrong way with him in that sense.

“(Jockey) Ryan (Moore) said they weren’t going quick enough for him, and I look forward to going back to a mile with him.

“He’d have no problem with that distance.

“I was very excited looking at him and we are getting a picture in our heads of what he is.

“I don’t think the dirt was any problem, but I would say distance-wise we should come back rather than go forward.

“If he didn’t have the speed I think he has, he wouldn’t want to get on with it like he did (in the Breeders’ Cup). We are still learning a lot about him.”

Since leaving the Bart Cummings’ yard So You Think raced eight times.

Seven of those starts have been at Group 1 level and have netted wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m), the Eclipse Stakes (2000m) and the Irish Champion Stakes (2000m).