Joe Pride’s returning The Everest hero Think About It is at an odds-on quote to kick off his autumn with a Group 1 win in the Canterbury Stakes 2024 at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Resuming The Everest hero Think About It is clear favourite to win the 2024 Canterbury Stakes fresh at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
Sydney racing features a double-shot of elite action on Saturday for Randwick Guineas Day including a diminutive but top field of sprinters facing off in the Group 1 $750,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
The field is down to just seven runners with Pride opting to withdraw his mare Call Di (7) in favour of an easier assignment later on the card in the Group 3 $250,000 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).
That leaves the stable with two runners in the Canterbury including Think About It who sits just shy of $12 million in stakes after a sensational spring campaign last time in.
The gallant son of So You Think boasts an outstanding record of 11 wins and two thirds from 13 starts.
His Randwick strike-rate is flawless (4:4-0-0) and includes of course the $20 million The Everest (1200m) last October.
Think About It is also undefeated first-up (4:4-0-0) and has plenty of form over the Canterbury distance (7:5-0-2).
The punters are getting behind the star five-year-old to resume a winner after a surprise last start loss at Rosehill when third to Bella Nipotina in the $3 million Giga Kick Stakes (1300m).
After a well-deserved break, he has been brought on with two good Warwick Farm trials and is the one to beat here in a small field from the outside alley with Sam Clipperton in the saddle.
The latest Canterbury Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have Think About It at $1.85.
Pride also saddles-up $11 pop Coal Crusher who has the fitness edge third-up with Adam Hyeronimus to ride The Hunter winner.
He was runner-up by a narrow margin first-up here in February’s Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) before running fifth last weekend in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).
On the quick back-up the six-year-old son of Turffontein should appreciate the same course and trip dropping from 60kg to 59kg at weight-for-age.
The main danger to Think About It meanwhile at current Canterbury Stakes odds of $3.90 is Espiona for Chris Waller.
Waller opted to withdraw her from Flemington’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in Melbourne on Saturday in favour of this run against a small field over further in Sydney, and the money is coming from the punters backing the master horseman’s call.
Espiona is a $3.90 shot in gate two with James McDonald aboard second-up after the daughter of Extreme Choice’s third fresh to Imperatriz when only three-quarters of a length beaten at 20/1 in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m).
She surprised plenty with her fast finish over the unsuitably short Lightning distance and is tipped to perform well again on Saturday back in Sydney chasing her first win since the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) here last October.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies in the Canterbury at $6.50 is the rails-drawn Pericles with English hoop Tom Marquand to ride the Godolphin galloper third-up.
The four-year-old Street Boss gelding was good in the spring when narrowly denied the $10 million Golden Eagle prize finishing second before two solid runs this time in.
He was sixth fresh in the Group 1 CF Orr (1400m) behind Mr Brightside and then second to the same star horse in the Futurity only 1.5 lengths off him at Caulfield.
At longer odds chasing an upset the other potential value lies in the Annabel Neasham-trained Lady Laguna ($10) who has won three of her past four starts.
The airborne Overshare mare put three wins together on the trot including the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m) at the Gold Coast.
She was good winning the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) by a 1.65 length margin two back and is out to atone for her second to Zougotcha at Rosehill last start in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m).
The Canterbury Stakes 2024 is scheduled as Randwick Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.
2024 Canterbury Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x111x113x | THINK ABOUT IT | Joseph Pride | Sam Clipperton | 8 | 59kg | 117 | ||
| 2 | 92x1132x62 | PERICLES | James Cummings | Tom Marquand | 1 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 3 | 10x3441x25 | COAL CRUSHER | Joseph Pride | Adam Hyeronimus | 5 | 59kg | 109 | ||
| 4 | 04x765824x | BANDERSNATCH | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jordan Childs | 3 | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 5 | x1576x3633 | MALKOVICH | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 4 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 6 | 17x21714x3 | ESPIONA | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 2 | 57kg | 113 | ||
| 7 | 3123×21112 | LADY LAGUNA | Annabel Neasham | Tyler Schiller | 6 | 57kg | 107 | ||
| 8 | 349x22532x | CALL DI | Joseph Pride | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 57kg | 91 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
