‘I was fearing the worst’: 2023 Everest winner Think About It retired after miracle recovery

When Think About It fell at the top of the Randwick straight on Saturday in the race before The Everest and track officials erected a screen around him, the sombre hush said everything about what many thought was coming next.

“I have seen horses come down like that before, and they don’t get back up, unfortunately,” veteran trainer Joe Pride said. “Once they put that screen up, they’re not coming out.”

Pride, who had trained Think About It to a thrilling win in the Everest last year, was preparing for the worst. Think About It had turned the corner at the rear of the field in the Sydney Stakes when the six-year-old fell, and jockey Jason Collett was thrown clear. The horse looked in distress, and so did his connections and fans.

“I walked down the straight. It was about 400m metres up – just a slow painful walk, by myself. I was fearing the worst,” Pride said.

“But then I saw his head pop up above the screen. It was amazing. I just thought ‘Aahh, what a relief’.

“I still didn’t know what was wrong with him but just the fact he was up on his feet was such a relief. The difference between him not leaving Randwick Racecourse, and him retiring a happy and sound horse, well, it was just a big relief.”

Think About It falls at the rear of the Sydney Stakes field.

To the cheers of the crowd, Think About It walked off the track. Proven Thoroughbreds later confirmed the champion had suffered a “significant pulmonary haemorrhage” but was OK.

Pride said Think About It was bright and well at his Warwick Farm stables on Sunday morning, but the trainer confirmed he had been retired from racing.

“I couldn’t possibly risk him again. It was a big bleed, so it was an easy decision,” Pride said.

“He is bright and happy. I was quite surprised. I walked into the stable this morning, and he has his head hanging out the door. He looked like he does any other day after a race.

“It is not to say he should race again or anything, but it is just me saying I am so happy to see him this morning. I can’t even believe he doesn’t even seem to be sore from the tumble. He rolled over and at speed, they’re going about 60km/h.”

Think About It won 11 of his 19 starts, with most of the wins coming in an unbeaten streak of nine races during 2022 and 2023, which culminated in the son of the legendary So You Think claiming the 2023 Everest. Think About It retires with $12,163,050 in career prizemoney.

Pride was a wreck of emotions late on Saturday night, after also training two winners – including Ceolwulf in the King Charles III Stakes – and grabbing a second with Coal Crusher, a horse he part-owns, in the same race that Think About It fell.

“I don’t believe in any higher powers but honestly, something happened there,” Pride said.

“I don’t know what happened. There is a scientific explanation there but it is beyond me. He shouldn’t have got up.”