Joe Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds are amazed at how Think About It came through Saturday’s traumatic experience, but that won’t affect their planning with the gelding.
Proven announced on Sunday morning that last year’s The Everest winner had run his last race.
Think About It had many holding their breath when he fell turning for home in the Sydney Stakes was sprawling on the Randwick track.
Initial reports were dire but Think About It – or ‘Spud’ as he is known to those close to him – eventually rose to his feet, having suffered a significant pulmonary haemorrhage, and walked off the track.
“We’ve had many questions about retirement and to state the obvious, the risk of a repeat of yesterday is simply too great to contemplate any racing future for Think About It so he has been retired,” Proven Thoroughbreds said in a statement on Sunday morning.
“At least there is something poetic about cheating death 12 months to the day from his Everest triumph.
“Thank you for everything, Spud.”
Pride expressed surprise at how well the six-year-old son of So You Think had come through the race.
“He’s actually quite bright,” Pride reported to Proven Thoroughbreds on Sunday morning.
“He’s gotta be sore from the fall alone, but he’s not showing it.”
Think About It retires with an impressive resume, including wins in the Kingsford-Smith Cup and the Stradbroke Handicap. Think About It retires the winner of 11 of his 19 starts and a tick over $12 million in stakes.