James McDonald’s tactics on Fangirl in the Verry Elleegant Stakes were a carbon copy of his Apollo Stakes ride two weeks earlier. Like most people watching the race, James was probably expecting the mare to emulate her Apollo win when she had them covered in a heartbeat, and cantered home from Militarise and Think It Over.
There were four very different factors at play on Saturday. When Fangirl popped off Arapaho’s back on top of the rise, she didn’t find the uniformity of going she’d encountered in the Apollo. Nor did she let down quite as quickly second up. Thirdly while James was licking his lips, the wily veteran Nash Rawiller executed a plan that would see him steal the prize from under Fangirl’s nose. Finally Think It Over was a different horse with the Apollo run under his belt. All things considered Fangirl doesn’t deserve to lose a single admirer.
The amazing 8 year old was back to his determined best on Saturday - He's a hard horse to get around - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Without the luxury of a rear vision mirror Rawiller had no way of knowing how much start Fangirl was giving him on the corner, but decided to execute his bold plan nevertheless. Most riders didn’t want to be within cooee of the fence from the hometurn, but Nash chartered a course three horses out which quickly put him clear of the tiring Just Fine and Lindermann. Fangirl was in clear air topping the rise some four lengths off Think It Over. You could see mild panic in McDonald’s body language, when he realised the bird may have flown. Nash allowed his favourite horse to keep drifting towards the middle of the track, confident Fangirl would have to do something extraordinary to get past the Kembla “street fighter”. The jockey’s elation right on the line indicated he was pretty pleased with himself.
The Verry Elleegant Stakes win took the remarkable eight year old’s record to 14 wins, 13 placings and $8.45 million dollars. It was Think It Over’s third Gr 1, but the fact he doesn’t have four on his CV remains a sore point with trainer Kerry Parker. It’s now history that the gelding was airborne coming into the Championships of 2021. He’d been dominant in winning the penalty free George Ryder Stakes to give Kerry his maiden Gr 1. He was to drop a massive 6.5 kgs to a luxury 52.5 in the Star Doncaster, and would have run close to favourite had it not been for a bizarre twist of fate.
The spoils of victory! Kerry and Nash were inundated with trophies after Saturday's Gr. 1 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Kerry and staff members were in buoyant mood as they floated their stable star from Kembla Grange to Royal Randwick on Doncaster day, but became anxious when they suddenly found themselves in a traffic snarl near the racecourse. Think It Over’s agitation resulted in the loss of a minuscule patch of skin from his near hind leg. Kerry reported the incident to vets on arriving at the race day stalls, fully expecting the horse to be cleared to start. “The first vet regarded the abrasion as insignificant and cleared him to run, but was overruled by a more senior vet who ordered his withdrawal,” recalled the trainer. “I was absolutely gutted. It was like a nightmare. I felt so sorry for the owner Richard Johnston, for all my team and for the horse himself. I went to the jockey’s room to tell Glen Boss what had happened, and he was in total disbelief. Despite having missed that all important run, Think It Over came out three weeks later to run a cracking fourth only 1.5 lengths behind Addeybb in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He would have given that Doncaster an almighty shake.”
By the time Think It Over was back for the spring of 2021, Nash Rawiller had taken over as his regular jockey and what a partnership they developed. Over the next six months the duo collected a Chelmsford Stakes, Hill Stakes, Rosehill Gold Cup, Apollo Stakes and that memorable Queen Elizabeth Stakes when Nash took a massive gamble by changing direction abruptly in the closing stages in search of better ground. Once again his gut feel proved correct when he grabbed Zaaki in the last stride. That’s Nash. When things get desperate he throws the book away. He did it again on Saturday with the desired result. Take all of the great jockeys of the modern era, and Nash Rawiller is the one who rides on instinct time and time again. When he’s right it’s a masterpiece.
Nash did the unexpected to get Think It Over home in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Runner up was his old sparring partner Zaaki - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The burgeoning superstar Think It Over was six weeks into his 2022 spring preparation when the unthinkable happened. As he walked out of his box one morning to be prepared for trackwork, the gelding appeared “short” in his action in the off foreleg. “It’s funny how every member of the team watches every move a good horse makes,” said Kerry. “It was as though everybody noticed that funny step at the same moment. My heart sank when I saw the swelling low down on the tendon, and felt sick when I ran my hand over the “hot spot”. The vets were there in a flash to confirm our worst fears. The tendon was showing signs of a tear, but thankfully we got it early and his long rehabilitation began. Mind you his welfare always came first. We would attempt a comeback only if the experts thought there was a realistic chance.”
After five weeks of “box rest” and regular walking, Think It Over was transferred to Limitless Lodge at Wyong Creek on the NSW Central Coast. This showplace spelling, pre training and rehabilitation property is owned and operated by eventing legend Tim Boland whose reputation as a miracle worker with unsound thoroughbreds has burgeoned in recent years. “Think It Over spent six months in the expert hands of Tim Boland, with further help down the track from Jonathan Lumsden at the Illawarra Equine Centre,” said Kerry. “They were both of the opinion he was capable of another racing preparation. By the time the horse resumed in the Winx Stakes last August, sixteen months had passed since his Queen Elizabeth Stakes win. The judgement of these two marvels has been spot on. He’s had only six runs since coming back for wins in the 7 Stakes last September, and Saturday’s Gr 1. They deserve a big chunk of the credit.”
Think It Over, on the comeback trail, wins the 7 Stakes at Randwick last September - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Think It Over’s elite level win at Randwick couldn’t have come at a better time for the popular Kembla Grange trainer. Kerry has been in the doldrums following a setback suffered in January by talented stablemate Hope In Your Heart who was just beginning her autumn campaign. The Dundeel mare sustained a nasty cut to a hind leg when she lashed out in the tie-up stalls at the Warwick Farm barrier trials - a cut requiring multiple stitches and an immediate abandonment of her preparation.
Hope In Your Heart has been a surprise packet from the commencement of her racing career in 2021. After early wins at Moruya and Goulburn she improved with every campaign to currently boast a record of 6 wins, 6 placings and $1.75 million in prize money. She’s the winner of two Gr 3’s and a Gr 2 and has some cracker performances on her CV at the top level. She beat all but Atishu in a Gr 1 Queen Of The Turf, and finished close up fourths in a Coolmore Classic and a Doncaster. Kerry had pencilled in some very suitable assignments for the mare during the upcoming autumn carnival. “She looks terrific and I was expecting her to do a job through this carnival,” said Parker. “Owners Deirdre and Alex Illes are devout horse lovers and will make the mare’s welfare a priority. They’re tossing up whether to give her a chance in some of the mare’s races during the Brisbane carnival or send her straight to stud. Hope In Your Heart has given them some huge thrills.”
One of Hope In Your Hearts 6 wins - the 2022 Angst Stakes with Craig Williams in the saddle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The astute trainer is quietly chuffed about the progress of a lightly raced three year old called Well Timed who also carries Richard Johnston’s easily identifiable dark blue and orange silks. The Nicconi gelding registered one second from his first four starts before being spelled and gelded. “He returned in a maiden at Nowra recently and did everything right to win nicely,” said the trainer. “There’s something about him. Early days yet, but I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go a fair bit further.”
Kerry Parker was a teenager when his equine involvement began at a Kangaroo Valley riding school owned by his father. He was sufficiently hooked to pursue a stint as a trackwork rider, firstly for Errol Amos at Canterbury, later for Sid Barker at Nowra and finally for David Balfour in Adelaide. His unwavering passion for the thoroughbred led him to a job as stable foreman for Les Bridge at Randwick.
He stayed five years and regarded the experience as life changing. Kerry’s world came crashing down in 2018 when he lost three year old Dark Dream with whom he’d won a Gr 1 Queensland Derby and a Gr 3 Rough Habit Plate. Dark Dream’s owners had succumbed to a “too good to refuse” offer from the vibrant Hong Kong market. Think It Over has subsequently helped to heal old wounds.
The amazing veteran’s next essay will be the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 23rd and that will round off his preparation for a third crack at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 13th. Champions Winx and Tulloch each won this race three times, while Addeybb and Grand Armee figure as dual winners. Think It Over is worthy of the opportunity to join such illustrious company, while his veteran rider is likely to pull a rabbit out of the hat on the day. Rawiller makes a habit of it.
Kerry puts a bear hug on Nash after the 7 Stakes win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Look at the intent in Think It Over's eye as he reaches the line in the Verry Elleegant - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)