Matthew Dunn is of the opinion that the lightly raced three-year-old gelding, Silent Thinker, has the capacity to mature into a Saturday-grade racehorse eventually, but for the present, modest successes are sufficient.

The gelding is set to contest the Barrier Reef Pools Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich on Friday for his third career start, aiming for consecutive victories after breaking his maiden status with an all-the-way win at the same track earlier this month. This followed a third-place debut at the Gold Coast, and Dunn indicated that the horse has continued to improve since his initial outing.

“We had to ride him really aggressively last start from a bad barrier and it’s probably not the way to ride him. He’s drawn a bit better on Friday,” Dunn said. “I think he’s a decent horse. He’s got a good future, and he’ll get out over a bit further yet. If he can get up to a mile, which I think he will, he’s a Saturday horse for sure. His pedigree suggests he will.”

Purchased for $50,000 through Inglis’ December online sale, Silent Thinker is the progeny of the successful stallion So You Think and a mare by Fusaichi Pegasus. Ben Thompson, who rode him last start, retains the mount, and Dunn anticipates Silent Thinker will be the horse to beat.

“He’s doing a good job, and he will be hard to beat again. He was good last start,” he stated. Meanwhile, Chris and Corey Munce present an intriguing contender in former Sydney galloper Exceed Perfection. The five-year-old, making his stable debut, has secured only one win in 23 starts but boasts 10 minor placings, demonstrating consistent form on the NSW provincial circuit. He benefits from a favourable weight assignment thanks to the two-kilogram claim of apprentice Courtney Bellamy, although he faces a challenging draw from barrier 13.

For those looking to back a winner, consider checking out the latest Australian betting sites for the best racing odds.