(TONY BOURKE was the long-time chief racing writer at The Age)

The already leaden skies over Royal Ascot today darkened considerably for most racing fans with the shock defeat of Australian champion So You Think in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes over 2000 metres.

There was stunned silence as So You Think, the 4/11 favourite, who had swept to the lead inside the 400 metres, was run down in the final 100 metres by Godolphin's Rewilding, ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Famed Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien was quick to take the blame for the defeat, saying he had not had the strapping five-year-old fit enough for yesterday's contest.

So You Think did look a treat in the mounting yard but, on reflection, those looks might have been deceiving.

‘'I was probably too easy on him after his first two runs for us, which he won easily, and I take full responsibility because I was thinking ahead and I didn't like to get stuck into him,'' O.Brien said.

‘'He just got a little bit tired in the last half furlong and you've got to remember the winner is a good mile and a half horse.''

Rewilding , trained for Godolphin at Newmarket by Mahmood Al Zarooni, in fact won the Group 1 Sheema Classic (2400m) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night in March.

After the initial shock of Show You Think's defeat, the crowd finally came to life when Detorri performed his trademark dismount from Rewilding although his victory was somewhat marred by a nine-day ban for excessive use of the whip.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, So You Think appeared to have the situation under control when his stablemate Jan Vermeer, acting as pacemaker, compounded at the top of the straight and he took the favourite to the front.

While Rewilding was beginning to wind up, the others, including second favourite Planteur, were struggling and So You Think was still travelling strongly.

Moore said later So You Think had been a bit keen early but then settled down and it was only in he last 100 metres that he started to feel the pinch.

O'Brien said it was too early to say when So You Think would have his next start although the most likely target would be the Eclipse Stakes (2000m) at Goodwood next month.

With something like $40 million or so in the balance for Coolmore, it is to be hoped O'Brien's honest assessment of So You Think's run is on the money and that the best is yet to come.