Everest winner to raise bar higher in Giga Kick Stakes

Joseph Pride has issued a stark warning to Think About It’s Giga Kick Stakes rivals, declaring The Everest winner still has a couple of lengths up his sleeve.

Pride said that while the horse didn’t need to improve much in terms of fitness, he had made inroads in other areas which pointed to a peak third-up performance.

“He has improved a fair bit in the coat, and he has strengthened up a bit behind his back I reckon,” Pride said.

“I think he might find a little bit more.

“He probably found two to three lengths first-up to second-up, he might find something similar here and if he does, it’s pretty scary for his opposition.”

Think About It’s Everest triumph took his record to 11 wins from 12 starts, his only defeat coming at Warwick Farm in August last year.

He will be one of three Giga Kick Stakes (1300m) runners for Pride along with Everest third placegetter Private Eye and Coal Crusher, who is being aimed towards The Hunter (1300m) in a fortnight.

Saturday’s feature will be the spring swansong for both Think About It and Private Eye as Pride begins mapping towards their next carnivals.

Despite asserting himself among the country’s best sprinters, Think About It’s main autumn goal will be the Doncaster Mile (1600m) and after that, all options are on the table including the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

“I’m open-minded about it, but in a perfect world I’m going Canterbury Stakes, George Ryder (Stakes), Doncaster and then just looking at the horse I’ve got and what he’s up for at that point,” Pride said.

“He is only having three runs in the spring so it would be nice to give him more than three runs in the autumn, but we’ll see.

“I might even duck him up to Brisbane and have another crack at something up there.”

A final field of nine has accepted for the Giga Kick Stakes with Think About It drawing barrier three, Private Eye six and Coal Crusher the outside.

Mazu (barrier seven) is the only other Everest runner lining up.