A masterful training performance by Kerry Parker has delivered the connections of Think It Over a $1 million bonus and justified their decision to forgo a Cox Plate campaign.
Think It Over triggered the bonus by claiming the Craven Plate – Rosehill Gold Cup double and has now won four of his past five starts to be the form horse of the Sydney spring.
While Parker decided not to take on the cream of Australia’s best gallopers this year, he won’t hesitate to do just that in the autumn with the Queen Elizabeth Stakes a likely goal.
“I’m not worried about taking anything on with him at the moment,” Parker said.
“They went to Melbourne and we stayed here, thank you very much.”
With import Gold Trip a race day scratching due to the firm track, Think It Over had to shoulder top weight of 61kg and Parker was happy to see Nash Rawiller keep the horse out of trouble and in a good rhythm.
Think It Over ($2.70) ranged up to the leaders at the top of the straight and shot to the front and while Rock ($9) chased gamely the winner was in a class of his own, scoring by a length, with Kiss The Bride ($21) another head away third.
Parker was thrilled his plan to chase the $1 million bonus for any horse that could win the Craven Plate and Rosehill Gold Cup double paid off and he hasn’t completely discounted a belated trip to Melbourne for next weekend’s Mackinnon Stakes.
“To think you can even aim up for something like this and for this horse to keep doing what he’s doing, it’s just sensational,” Parker said.
“He thinks he is (a super star). He gets around the stables like that. He’s in a terrific place, he’s enjoying it as much as we are.
“The horse is absolutely thriving and he’s loved every moment of this preparation and it’s just super to get that job done.
“There is an option if he went to Melbourne for the Mackinnon next Saturday but we’ll just see what that takes out of him.”
Nash Rawiller has forged a tremendous partnership with Think It Over and said the horse did a terrific job to win Saturday’s 2000m race under his big weight.
“He continues to turn up every week and has gradually raised the bar. You don’t see much better than what he did just then,” Rawiller said.
“You’ve got to pinch yourself to think of what he might do in the autumn.”