The path to another tilt at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for 2022 winner Think It Over is set to begin in another Randwick weight-for-age race the grand campaigner also won two years ago.
Trainer Kerry Parker is thrilled with the way his stable star is going in preparation for his first start of 2024 on Saturday in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes.
Nash Rawiller is booked to continue his association with Think It Over in the 1400-metre event, with Parker also pencilling in another two races for the gelding’s campaign before the $5 million Queen Elizabeth (2000m) at Randwick in April during The Championships.
Think It Over won the Apollo and Queen Elizabeth during a memorable 2022 autumn preparation before the gelding spent more than a year off the scene when he suffered a tendon injury.
His comeback campaign during the 2023 spring netted a victory in the $1 million 7 Stakes at Randwick.
He was spelled again after an unplaced finish in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes on October 14.
“He’s come back great,” Parker said.
“I thought his trials have been really good and he’s been doing everything really well, so I’m looking forward to getting him back to the races next Saturday.
“He’ll just head on that traditional path to the Queen Elizabeth.
“He’s won it (Queen Elizabeth Stakes) once and it would be nice to get him back there fully fit and going, so fingers crossed.”
The Apollo has attracted 13 nominations including multiple Group 1 winners Fangirl, Cascadian and Militarize.
Think It Over was beaten just under 1-1/2-lengths when sixth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes over the Randwick 1400m first-up from his lengthy lay-off last spring.
“Last time I had brought him in really early and made sure we gave him a really good foundation, so he had been in work a long time before that carnival,” Parker said.
“I thought he did a super job to come back and win the 7 Stakes and I was happy to give him a nice break.”
Think It Over has had two Warwick Farm trials leading into the Apollo.
“I think he’ll run really well,” Parker said.
“He’s got good first-up form but he is getting a little older, he might find something a little sharper and no doubt he’s still going to improve from his first-up run.
“He is an eight-year-old now but he is coming up really good. I was rapt with his trial and he worked nicely (on Saturday morning) so I’m looking forward to getting him back to the races.”
