Unbeaten mare Clear Thinking can put stakes assignment on radar with big return at Randwick

Trainer Paul Messara is keen to raise the bar with emerging mare Clear Thinking this preparation as she prepares to return at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Paul Messara says black type is the key for boom country mare Clear Thinking this autumn as she prepares to put her unbeaten record on the line at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Clear Thinking ($3.10 favourite) brings a perfect record of three wins from three into her highly-anticipated fresh assignment in the TAB Highway Class 3 (1200m).

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Messara, who trains with Leah Gavranich, is hoping to use the first-up run as a launching pad into the upcoming carnival where a crack at stakes grade over sprint trips looms as a likely opportunity for the well-bred mare.

“I had her pencilled in as a six-furlong horse, more of a sprinting type and I didn’t have any intention to stretch her out but I will see how she goes on Saturday,” Messara said.

“She has 60kg, a wide barrier and it’s her first-up run so there is a few things and we will have to probably have to ride her a bit off the pace and a bit more conservatively than normal.

“The intention is to get her a good three or four runs, or as many runs as we can get out of her this prep.

“We want her to have a nice first-up run without driving forward.”

Clear Thinking will make her return on Saturday at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Clear Thinking is an $8 second elect for the Country Championships but black type is more valuable for the daughter of Dubawi out of Group 1 winner Sweet Idea with the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick among the options next month.

She missed the chance to get a crack at The Kosciuszko in the spring after a minor foot issue cut the campaign short, but has since put the issue behind her.

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“It was no more than a bit of foot bruising and no more than a week off,” he said.

“I was very tight for time with The Kosciuszko so I couldn’t afford to give her a couple of weeks off and miss gallops and then screw her down to get her to the race.

“I thought, ‘you know what I am going to cut off my nose to spite my face’ so let’s give her a good break and it was her first prep last prep.

“The time off has done her the world of good.”

While a Country Championships tilt is unlikely for Clear Thinking, it is set to be the grand final for talented stablemate Know Thyself.

Group 3 placegetter Know Thyself is being aimed at the Country Championships. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Know Thyself, currently an equal $6 favourite for the series with Barn Dance winner Gallant Star, is one of the state’s most exciting country gallopers and hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Group 3 Winx Guineas in July last year.

The son of The Autumn Sun was third his first trial over 900m at Scone on Wednesday morning.

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“He is progressing well,” Messara said.

“I thought he trailed pretty well and a couple of those horses in front of him in the trial were having a good hit out and were well performed horses.

“It was a trial over 900m and he is more of a 1200-1400m horse really and it was his first trial back so he will improve off that and have another one in two weeks, then 2½ weeks before a run.”

Know Thyself will have one run before contesting the Hunter and North West Qualifier at Tamworth on March 9.

Genzano also returns at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Meanwhile, another of Messara and Gavranich’s more talented gallopers will return at Randwick with Group 3 winning mare Genzano ($19) poised to line up in the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale 9-11 Feb Benchmark 72 (1400m).

Genzano has only had two runs in the past 14 months, missing the placings in a pair of 3YO assignments during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and pulling up with excuses.

“I thought she had performed below bar and scoped her and found entrapped epiglottis,” Messara said.

“Genzano had that minor surgery and she is back to normal.

“She should be in for a good prep, I was happy with the way she trialled the other day and we wanted to give her another one but they were cancelled.

“She has had another little jump out at home.

“She will probably need the run Saturday but will have a good improving prep.”

Gun hoop Aaron Bullock pilots Genzano and Clear Thinking.

Originally published as Unbeaten mare Clear Thinking can put stakes assignment on radar with big return at Randwick