‘Champion’ status on line for The Everest winner Think About It during Sydney autumn carnival

Owner-syndicator Jamie Walter is excited by what Think About It could achieve in a possible four-start campaign that begins with the Group 1 $750,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Think About It wins The Everest.

Think About It isn’t deserving of champion status yet but that could change by the end of his Sydney autumn carnival campaign.

Owner-syndicator Jamie Walter is excited by what Think About It could achieve in a possible four-start campaign that begins with the Group 1 $750,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Walter and trainer Joe Pride have planned to take their winner of The Everest out in race distance this autumn for the Doncaster Mile (1600m) and possibly the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

“Joe and I discuss plans for all our horses and we are on the same page 99 times out of 100,’’ Walter said.

“But with Think About It, we are 100 per cent in agreement. We are excited for the autumn to see this horse getting out over further.

“He is by So You Think and Zabeel is close up on his dam’s side. If he can’t run a mile at least, I would be very, very surprised.’’

Trainer Joe Pride with Think About It after The Everest.

Think About It is building an outstanding race record of 11 wins from 13 starts with prizemoney of nearly $12 million but Walter said the gelding needs to keep winning to be worthy of being rated a champion.

“I wouldn’t call Think About It a champion, he hasn’t done enough yet,’’ Walter said. “I think that word is used too liberally.

“To be a proper champion you have to have longevity, compete in the best races over a long period, have an exceptional winning record, and the ability to adapt over various distances, tracks and surfaces.

“We are going to give Think About It his opportunity during autumn.’’

If Think About It is a rising superstar, his stablemate Private Eye could be described as racing’s “working class hero”.

Private Eye, also owned and syndicated by Walter, is modestly-bred but big on talent and is chasing more big-race success in the Group 2 $500,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m).

Private Eye (left) runs second to Imperatriz in the Lightning Stakes.

There has been a remarkable transformation in the rising seven-year-old gelding over the years – he’s defied normal behaviour and become faster as he has grown older.

“When Private Eye won the Queensland Guineas as a three-year-old, I remember Brenton Avdulla asking if the horse was going to the Derby,’’ Walter said.

“We had already decided to spell the horse and bring him back for the Epsom Handicap (1600m) later that year which he won. Later that spring he came from last on the turn to run fifth in the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).

“Then we stumbled on sprinting for him. We used to ride him back in the field but the turning point was in the Stradbroke Handicap because he drew a good gate, began like a gazelle and box-seated.

“He was a bit stiff getting a run in the straight but Alligator Blood was a deserved winner.’’

Private Eye then won the Gilgai Stakes brilliantly and found himself in the 2022 Everest, finishing second to Giga Kick.

He ran third in another Everest last year behind Think About It.

“From a potential Derby horse to be placed twice in The Everest, he’s been amazing,’’ Walter said. “He even led a Lightning Stakes over 1000m last start before finishing a close second to Imperatriz. He’s been a great horse for his connections.’’

Originally published as ‘Champion’ status on line for The Everest winner Think About It during Sydney autumn carnival