‘Frustrating’ weather could kill Think It Over’s Tancred hopes
There is no question Think It Over is a superstar stayer, the six-year-old already picking up more than $4.6 million in prizemoney for trainer Kerry Parker.
But – despite a brilliant one-length victory in the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) last October and an Apollo Stakes triumph over 1400m at Randwick in February – Parker admits he is frustrated.
When asked if he was confident in his runner’s chances in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill this Saturday, the trainer told HorseBetting.com.au: “Not with the rain around.”
“He’s a way better horse on top of the ground than these heavier tracks we’ve been getting,” he continued.
“It’s frustrating, really.”
Unfortunately for Parker, with the rain in Sydney continuing to fall this week, Rosehill was given a Soft 7 rating on Thursday.
Despite that, on paper Think It Over is still one of the favourites.
He is third in betting at $4.40, behind Ed Cummings’ Duais ($2.90) and Peter Moody’s Spanish Mission ($4.20).
They were the top-three horses from Think It Over’s last start, a fighting second to Duais in the $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12.
“His wet form is atrocious,” Parker said.
“He looks like he’ll be up in his normal position running just in behind the speed.”
Parker was thrilled at the way Think It Over held on for second behind a fast-finishing Duais in the Australian Cup, with the winning time clocked at just over two minutes.
“He went terrific in the Australian Cup. He kept finding the line doing his best work late,” the Kembla Grange-based trainer said.
“I think he was just beaten by a better one on the day. She had the drop on us and a better turn of foot. It looked like she had him beaten a long way out.
“I was absolutely thrilled with my bloke’s courage to keep fighting all the way to the line.
“Just going by the market, the trifecta of the Australian Cup looks to be the main form going into it.
“It looks like the three of them will do battle again.”
After winning a maiden sprint at Goulburn over 1300m on March 25, 2019, it took almost 12 months for Think It Over’s career breakthrough and third victory.
That was when he saluted in the $125,000 Ranvet Handicap (2000m) as a four-year-old on February 29, 2020.
From there, he has enjoyed a magnificent career, highlights including wins in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and Yulong Hill Stakes (2000m) – both worth $1 million – before his Rosehill Gold Cup triumph last year.
“I think he’s just matured as he’s come along. It took a while for the penny to drop,” Parker said.
“He was doing a fair bit early just on raw ability, but he’s got more confidence as he’s gone along.
“And he’s turned into the racehorse we have now. I think sometimes patience can be wonderful.
“We just took our time and let him mature as we went every prep, and he seemed to get better and better.”