It looks all but certain now that barring any unforeseen circumstances the high-class Ballydoyle standard bearer So You Think will take his chance on Saturday night in the world's richest race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan, writes Elliot Slater.

The horse who has made such a big impression in both hemispheres is set to race in the Middle East for the first time, and a Ballydoyle spokesman has recently confirmed that young Joseph O'Brien, son of So You Think's trainer Aidan O'Brien, will be entrusted with the task of trying to get the international campaign of Ireland's most powerful racing stables off to the best possible start. Anyone placing an international horse racing bet will keep a close eye on him.

O'Brien has never ridden the ex-Australian star in public before, Ryan Moore having been the most frequent choice as jockey for the horse who set Australia alight with a series of stunning performances in 2010 before going on to prove himself top-notch in Europe with wins last season in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, and Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. He also finished an agonisingly close runner-up to Rewilding in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, and filled the same position behind Cirrus Des Aigles in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October having previously run well to be a staying-on fourth to Danedream in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

O'Brien's camp report the son of High Chaparral to have come to hand early and believe he will run a big race against top international opposition from the Far East, the United States, Dubai, Europe and South Africa, and bookmakers share that opinion in making him a rock solid 3/1 ante-post favourite to give young O'Brien another high profile winner on the international stage.

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