Sydney’s extended run of wet weather is causing trainer Kerry Parker plenty of sleepless nights as he tries to navigate the best route to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for stable star Think It Over.
The gelding, whose best form is on top of the ground, is slated to line up in Saturday’s Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday and Parker is desperately hoping the forecast rain stays away and the track remains in the slow range.
“I lose more sleep over the weather than his opposition or the horse, but there’s not much I can do about it,” Parker said.
“He will most likely run. Plan B would be to go to a trial but the way they are getting washed out, it makes it very difficult for that as well.”
Parker had some good news midweek when the horse’s regular rider Nash Rawiller successfully appealed the severity of a careless riding suspension, leaving him free to partner Think It Over.
The six-year-old returns to Sydney after making his Melbourne debut with a second to Duais in the Australian Cup at Flemington.
Sydney’s heavy tracks prompted the interstate mission, but also gave Parker a chance to test Think It Over in the reverse direction with a view to targeting Victorian features in the spring.
The trainer is taking a similar mindset into the Tancred Stakes when Think It Over is given a distance test, stretching to 2400 metres for the first time since the 2020 Manion Cup when he finished fourth.
“He was doing a lot wrong then. He was over-racing and was just a bit of a goose at that time,” Parker said.
“He was still learning his trade whereas, he listens to the jockey a lot more now and will switch on and switch off when he needs to.
“The further I went in his preparation last time, the better he was winning, so I’m hoping we can get him into that same zone.
“It leaves a lot more doors open if he can run a good, solid 2400.”
All being well, Think It Over will press on to his grand final race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month where he faces a mouth-watering weight-for-age clash with Verry Elleegant, Zaaki, Montefilia and Godolphin three-year-old Anamoe.