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| Staff Writer |
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The 2023 Everest looked like a highly competitive race on paper in advance, and so it proved the first five homes covered by less than a length and a quarter in a pulsating finish. For Jamie Walter and Proven Thoroughbreds, it was a day to remember. Not only did Private Eye back up his second in the 2022 race with another huge run, but they also won the race with Think About It.
It has been a remarkable start to the horse's career, now the winner of 11 of his 12 starts, and there should be plenty more to come from him. He would sit closer to the speed than those who filled out the frame behind him, and Walter found the draw to be key.
"The barriers turned out to be critical with Private Eye from nine having to work three deep without cover the whole way, whilst Think About It ended up having the perfect trail in transit after jumping from the softer gate of five."
Luck always plays a massive part in any sport, but that is not to say that Think About It would not have won if he had been drawn wider. His battling attitude will always stand him in good stead, while his high cruising speed allows him to take positions that others cannot.
Confident Clipperton Leads The Way To Victory
It had been a clean preparation for the pair in the lead-up to the race. That made Walter "very confident they'd run well. I was convinced Private Eye was back to his best after a forgettable autumn. I also felt that Think About Its burgeoning record of wins gave him a great chance despite having to confront the deepest race he'd ever contested."
Jockey Sam Clipperton has had a steady start to the season, so the 29 YO should be full of confidence heading to the rest of the Spring Carnival after a ride that Walter described as "confident, professional and knowledgeable."
Clipperton could sit in the box seat just off the strong early pace set by Overpass and Alcohol Free. The fact that the pair dropped out to finish 10th and 12th in the 12-runner field is a testament to the engine that Think About It possesses to keep going. Private Eye was also close enough to that pace, though wider than his stablemate.
The pair are set to clash again on the 4th of November at Rosehill, so Private Eye will have his shot at revenge there. That will be in the Giga Kick Stakes over 1300m, a race better known as the Winners.
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Private Eye's Future Plans: Sydney Autumn Preparation
That race was won by Private Eye in 2022 after his runner-up effort in the Everest so it is a path that trainer Joseph Pride has taken with success in the past. Walter reported that Private Eye has "pulled up in good order. Indeed, there may even be improvement in him, which will make for an absorbing tussle when they next meet."
Beyond that, the plans seem fluid enough at present. "Think About It will most certainly spell to be prepared for the Sydney autumn. Private Eye, I'm not so sure. He's had no joy on the wet tracks of Sydney's autumn in recent years, so we'll consider options before then."
Sadly, for fans outside of Australia, there are no plans for the pair to be sent on their travels - "nothing International is being considered at this stage." Royal Ascot will surely be interested in them for next June, while the warmth and decent ground of Meydan and the Al Quoz sprint might appeal to Private Eye if the wet Sydney tracks that time of year are unsuitable. We can live in hope anyway!
The celebration saw "multiple drinks on the course - then we went for dinner with family, friends and the slot holders .... who are also friends!" Even though the slot holders are friends, there are "no offers or anything considered for the 2024 Everest at the moment."
A win in a race of this magnitude significantly affects a syndicate like Proven. "In a results-based business, the best form of advertising for any syndicator is winning races, especially the elite ones! Longevity in racing equates to success, and we've been in business a long time, so being fortunate enough to win races of this magnitude is enormously satisfying as well as rewarding."
So, what advice would Walter give to people looking to find a Think About It of their own? "Persist, buy multiple shares in as many horses as you can afford, don't get disheartened by failure and find trustworthy, capable people for advice."
Persistence is vital in so much of life. Walter has shown that longevity in the industry will pay off eventually when putting in enough hard yards. Plenty more races are to be won in these now famous colors - perhaps they will be carried to success again in the 2024 Everest at Randwick. We only have twelve months to find out.
By Scott McGlynn