The Joe Pride-trained Think About It continued his impressive rise through the ranks with a bullish performance to claim the 2023 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm ahead of his shot at the Stradbroke in a fortnight’s time.

Converge (pictured in Sydney) was huge late running second in Brisbane’s 2023 Kingsford Smith Cup results. Photo: Steve Hart.

Pride’s four-year-old son of So You Think went to another level in the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) posting his eighth win at career start number nine.

The fast improver came off a Listed Takeover Target Stakes victory at Gosford three weeks earlier and went around as second favourite in his Group 1 debut in Brisbane.

Jockey Sam Clipperton gave the top elect a lovely ride settled just off the pace before making his move on the home straight and going on to win his fourth Group 1.

Pride’s other runner, veteran sprint star Eduardo, led the Kingsford Smith Cup field around before fading right out on the home straight to cross second last.

“It’s hard watching a race like that as I had Eduardo fading out at the end so sort of mixed emotions,” Pride told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-race.

“But we’ll just see, Eduardo may have just found that track a bit too firm.”

As Eduardo was fading Think About It was just winding-up, the gun galloper going up to the Rob Heathcote-trained Rothfire who had hit the front 450m out from the line.

Think About It ($5.50) came hard down the outside of the Group 1 winning local star, claiming Rothfire with a furlong to go and racing off for an impressive victory.

Flashing home late to snare second in a huge run was the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Frankel four-year-old Converge ($14) in his first start since a Doncaster Mile flop finishing 19th in the wet at Randwick back on April 1.

Rothfire ($7) held for third to complete the Kingsford Smith Cup trifecta with all three runners likely to meet again back at the track on June 10th in the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

“This horse here is going from strength to strength,” Pride said of his Kingsford Smith Cup winner Think About It.

“He’s travelled up well.

“Wow, what a performance. He sat three-wide, got a bit of cover, but was explosive. He had to get past a proper horse in Rothfire and he went through the line well.

“I think 1400m will be no problems with him in a couple of weeks’ time.

“A dynamic performance and he’ll only improve. He’s three weeks between runs so he won’t be going backwards off that.

“As long as he pulls up well…we’ll bring him back up here (for the Stradbroke).

“They’re easy to place good horses.

“It’s so exciting have this horse ripping through the grades, who knows where he’ll get to.”

The latest all-in 2023 Stradbroke Handicap odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have Think About It as the $4 favourite ahead of Saturday’s Group 3 Fred Best Classic winner Hawaii Five Oh ($5) and Converge ($7).

Click here for the updated Stradbroke Handicap 2023 betting markets.

2023 Kingsford Smith Cup Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.