Trainer Joe Pride had mixed emotions as he watched a stable favourite fade in the straight while watching an up-and-comer collect his first Group 1 prize at Eagle Farm.
Think About It extended his record to eight wins from nine starts with his victory in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
While delighted with the victory, Pride held concerns over rising 10-year-old Eduardo, who after leading, faded in the straight to finish second last.
“It’s hard watching a race like that because I had Eduardo fading out at the end and I’ve got mixed emotions,” Pride said.
“We will let the dust settle and see how he pulls up, but this horse (Think About It) is just going from strength to strength.”
Ridden by Sam Clipperton, Think About It ($5.50) registered a three-quarter length win over Converge ($14) with Rothfire ($7) a short neck away third.
Pride said it was a big performance from Think About It after he was forced to cover ground.
“He got a bit of cover, but he was exposed and had to get past a proper horse in Rothfire,” Pride said.
“He took care of that, and he was strong through the line. You’d think 1400 metres will be no problems for him in a couple of weeks’ time.
Pride said providing Think It Over pulls up well he was likely to head back to Warwick Farm in Sydney to prepare for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.
The trainer is expecting a tough contest when he returns to Brisbane in a fortnight.
“Somewhere in that field you probably have (seen the Stradbroke winner) and let’s hope it’s Think About It,” Pride said.
“It was a dynamic performance, and he will only improve, as he was three weeks between runs, and he is not going to take a backwards step from there.
“His second dam is actually a Zabeel mare and just the whole way through I sort of thought he would get over ground, but he’s a bit explosive to do that isn’t he.
“They are easy to place good horses. They make us look like we are doing a really good job.
“The whole team deserve a big thanks. It is so exciting to have a horse like this ripping through the grades.”