Another audacious Nash Rawiller ride has propelled grand campaigner Think It Over to an upset win in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, the giant killer claiming the scalp of Fangirl to notch his third Group One title.
While Rawiller and Think It Over went to the outside fence to beat the country’s best middle-distance horses in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, this time the top jockey hugged the inside rail to pinch a winning break.
“He brings the best out of me, that’s for sure,” Rawiller said.
“He is one of those horses you get so much confidence riding and I love riding for (trainer) Kerry (Parker). He always gives me the confidence to be confident on him.”
After winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Think It Over suffered a career-threatening tendon injury that sidelined him for 15 months.
That journey added to the emotions for Parker, who was left in awe of the eight-year-old’s tenacity to return to racing’s highest level at Randwick on Saturday.
“Everyone thinks he’s a giant-killer, I just think he’s a giant,” Parker said.
“I think they’ve got to get past him, and he has proved that again today.
“Nash took some short cuts, I’m sure that helped at the end, but he really bounced off his first-up run and I was looking forward to the challenge today.”
While Fangirl was sent out a $1.30 top pick with bookmakers, Parker said he was quietly confident Think It Over could give her a race.
He felt his gelding had taken enormous benefit fitness-wise from his first-up third to Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) and he had sensed an upset brewing.
“I was very confident he would really push her today,” Parker said.
“He’s just a gun. I look at him and think, ‘you’re eight mate, I don’t know how long you’re going to be here’ but I just love every moment of him.
“They just don’t come along like that. He’s a bottler.”
Chris Waller couldn’t fault Fangirl’s effort but said it was a tough defeat to take as he had been desperate to win the inaugural running of the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), named in honour of his former star.
“Just with the race, it would have meant so much to win. That’s the only disappointing thing,” Waller said.
“But that’s racing, that happens.
“It was a great ride from Nash and a great horse returning to good form.”
Think It Over ($8.50) prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Fangirl ($1.30 betting app fav) with Lindermann ($14) another 1-3/4 lengths away third.
Parker confirmed the winner would continue to head towards another Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) tilt, via the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in three weeks.
