They keep raising the bar for Think About It, and the son of So You Think never flinches.
The Joe Pride-trained gelding earned a second consecutive Group 1 win when Sam Clipperton guided him to a one-and-a-half-length triumph in Saturday’s $3,000,000 Group 1 The Star Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The local champ Rothfire conceded the winner 3kgs and was the bravest of seconds, a neck in front of I Am Invincible’s rising star Hawaii Five Oh.
Sporting the colours of Proven Thoroughbreds, Think About It advances his record to nine wins and a third from ten starts with earnings of $2,848,175.
The 4yo son of So You Think has already been picked up by Newgate Farm for a slot in The Everest.
“I’ve waited a long time for a horse like this. He’s pretty good,” Pride enthused.
“Just the way he’s gone through his grades and the way he’s been able to do it. I’m a bit lost for words, it was a really special win today. Just to see him draw away from them - he was never going to get beat.
“He’s just been able to keep climbing. This is the first time I haven’t put him up in grade from one run to the next - and it was Group 1 to Group 1. It was amazing.”
“Bring on anything for this horse. I just don’t know where his ceiling is, he’s amazing.
“I’d love to see how far he can run. He ticked off a strong 1400m today, you’d think he could easily run a mile.
“But first thing’s first - the Everest slot. The Everest is there in the spring and it’s hard to imagine him not running well.”
“That was amazing. The build-up felt like a lot of pressure. I’m pretty good with pressure normally but it felt so intense all week. He deserved to be favourite, and he showed why today.
“Every trainer wants a Tie The Knot, a Sunline, a Winx or a Black Caviar, and this horse is really trending the right way. I’m not saying he’s there, but he’s really heading in the right direction.
“I can’t wait to give him a break because I know he’s going to improve significantly on the way back.”
Proven Thoroughbreds / Joe Pride Racing purchase Think About It for $70,000 from the Newgate Farn draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Bred by Greg and Donna Kolivos’ Lightning Thoroughbreds, Think About It is the best of three winners from as many to race for Tiare, a winning half-sister by Flying Spur to Group II winning sprinter Keen Array.
Tiare was sold through the Newgate Consignment at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $150,000 to Tasmania-based Grenville Stud.
Tiare produced a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring and was covered by Grenville Stud’s young Fastnet Rock stallion Zululand.
