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| Sumita Pawar |
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With The Everest in his sights this spring, Think About It continued his meteoric ascent to stardom under the tutelage of Joe Pride, following his triumphant victory at the Stradbroke Handicap 2023 in Brisbane.
The So You Think four-year-old, having won nine out of ten career starts, continued his winning streak by triumphing in the Gr.1 A$3 million Stradbroke Handicap, just two weeks after his weight-for-age Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup win at Eagle Farm, pleasing the punters with his impeccable performance.
Unbeatable Beauty: Pride's Dream Horse
“I think I’ve waited a long time for a horse like this, he’s pretty amazing,” Pride told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“The way he’s gone through the grades. It was a really special win today see him draw away from them and he was never going to get beaten.
“I’m a bit lost for words.”
Think About It Claims Victory
Think About It showcased its true talent by strategically settling in mid-field during one of the nation's top handicap races, only to surge ahead on the straight and claim a resounding victory.
Rothfire, the local champion, showed bravery by carrying the top weight from the outside gate and finishing second with an on-pace run. Meanwhile, the inexperienced Hawaii Five Oh impressively secured third place with just 49.5kg. However, the ultimate winner of the event was Think About It, the Stradbroke champion, ridden to victory by Sam Clipperton. With this win, Clipperton seems to have the upcoming major events under his control.
“He’s just been able to keep climbing,” Pride added.
“This is the first time I haven’t put him up in grade from one run to the next and that was going from a Group 1 to a Group 1.
“That was amazing.”
Think About It has earned a guaranteed spot in the prestigious A$15 million The Everest at Randwick in October, thanks to Henry Field's Newgate Farm acquiring the lion's share of GPI Racing's slot and cementing the horse's position in the race last week.
“I think he’s (So You Think) a fantastic stallion to state the obvious,” Pride said.
“I’ve trained him (Think About It) as a sprinter so far, but that’s not to say he can’t run further.”
Joining the reigning champion Giga Kick and last year's third place-getter Mazu, Think About It gallops into The Everest field as the third horse to secure its spot.