3 minute read

Emerging sprinter Think About It has reaffirmed his Stradbroke Handicap claims.

Joe Pride doesn't know where Think About It's ceiling is, but he does know he has a potentially top sprinter on his hands after the Stradbroke Handicap favourite overcame obstacles to win the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford. 

It is Pride's fifth victory in the 1200-metre feature and while his past winners include multiple Group performer Ball Of Muscle, he believes Think About It might be the best of them. 

"It's been a good race for us and this is probably the best horse of mine who has won it, potentially anyway," Pride said. 

"It was a good effort given the way the track is playing. 

"It was a slowly run race, big weight to carry, Sam (Clipperton) rode him exceptionally well given the conditions and he just finds a way to get the job done this horse." 

Lumping topweight of 58kg and travelling three-wide with cover from an outside draw, Think About It settled worse than midfield and had several lengths to make up on his rivals when he balanced for the run home. 

But the $3.90 second favourite was equal to the task, launching down the outside to reel in Bacchanalia ($13) by a half-length with Fox Fighter ($11) running his usual honest race for third. 

Clipperton has ridden Think About It in his past five starts and says experience has taught him not to overthink tactics on good horses. 

He went into the race with an open mind on where the horse would settle from his wide draw and trusted in Think About It's ability to get the job done. 

"One thing about the barrier, I'm slowly learning in my career that the better horses that I ride, you just don't have a plan. They'll sort it out with you and that's exactly what this horse did," Clipperton said. 

"It took him the short straight to get there but he's gone away and won with his ears pricked and he's very exciting." 

Think About It has won seven of his eight starts and will now head to Queensland where his main aim is the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.