Silent Thinker aiming for back-to-back wins at Ipswich

Trainer Matthew Dunn is confident that his promising three-year-old, Silent Thinker, is on track to become a Saturday-class competitor, but for now, he's focused on current races.

The gelding is scheduled to compete in the Barrier Reef Pools Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich this Friday, marking his third race. He is seeking to follow up a maiden victory achieved with an all-the-way performance at the same venue earlier this month. His debut run resulted in a third placing at the Gold Coast, and Dunn noted that the horse has shown further development since that initial race.

"We had to ride him really aggressively last start from a bad barrier and it's probably not the way to ride him. He's drawn a bit better on Friday," Dunn commented. "I think he's a decent horse. He's got a good future, and he'll get out over a bit further yet. If he can get up to a mile, which I think he will, he's a Saturday horse for sure. His pedigree suggests he will."

Silent Thinker, a $50,000 acquisition from Inglis' December online sale, is by the esteemed sire So You Think and out of a mare by Fusaichi Pegasus. Jockey Ben Thompson, who partnered him in his last start, will again be in the saddle, and Dunn anticipates a strong showing from his charge.

"He's doing a good job, and he will be hard to beat again. He was good last start," Dunn added. The training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce introduces Exceed Perfection, a former Sydney galloper, into the mix. This five-year-old, making his first appearance for the Munce stable, has a solitary win from 23 starts, but has accumulated 10 placings, indicating his reliability in NSW provincial races. He carries a favourable weight with apprentice Courtney Bellamy's two-kilogram allowance, though barrier 13 presents a hurdle.

Betting markets are already buzzing for this exciting Ipswich race; explore the top online bookmakers for your wagers.