He resumed in great order with a slashing win in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on the weekend and the Joseph Pride-trained Think About It will now head up north to tackle the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.
Boasting an impeccable record of seven wins from just eight starts, with some believing he should be still unbeaten, the son of So You Think has been made early favourite for both races at the $4.50 quote in All-In markets.
The four-year-old has shown a versatility in his racing pattern by winning races on speed as well as coming from the back and has also performed on a variety of surfaces. Six of his seven victories have come around different circuits and Pride is hopeful his gelding can take that next step racing at the highest level.”He’s experienced quite a few different things in a short racing career where he’s been asked to go to a lot of different tracks,” Pride told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve been really pleased with the way he’s been able to adapt to some pretty tricky situations.
“He’s still got a little mountain to climb there, you never take it for granted that a horse is going to take that leap from whatever grade they’re in to the higher grade.
“But he does shape as a horse who’s got plenty of the requirements and ingredients in place that he’s going to be able to make that transition.”
Pride is quite surprised by the skinny odds on offer at this stage of betting, but believes the opposition may drop away as the Brisbane carnival progresses.
“It’s not for me to set prices that’s for sure, but it is a bit peculiar that he’s favourite in a $3 million Group One,” Pride said.
“But in saying that when I look at horses around him in the market I can see why punters think that he’s going to be able to beat those horses.
“The Stradbroke and the Queensland carnival, maybe not the early part of it but the latter part of it, is going to fall victim to the other carnivals in a way. “Everybody is putting their sprinters away now and getting them ready for the sprint series and The Everest, so you’re probably never going to have the top tier of sprinters.
“There’s some good ones going up to the (Doomben) 10,000 this weekend but a lot of them will go to the paddock after that, so I can see why he’s found his place in the market.”
As to whether regular rider Sam Clipperton will be following him up north, Pride was adamant he would be making the trip.
“You couldn’t get him off with a crowbar,” Pride assured.
