Trainer Joe Pride has run first and third in the world’s richest turf race with his outstanding galloper Think About It securing his ninth straight victory when holding off I Wish I Win in The Everest 2023 results while stablemate Private Eye secured another placing in third.

2023 The Everest winner Think About It was too good for his rivals saluting for the punters in the seventh edition of the famous slot race. Photo: Steve Hart.

Dubbed as ‘the horse that doesn’t know how to lose’, So You Think five-year-old Think About It was too good again securing his 11^th career success at his 12^th start in a thrilling seventh edition of the $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

The horse was snapped up in the winter by slot-holders Newgate Farm & GPI Racing following his Group 1 Brisbane double in the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.

He returned a first-up winner saluting as the odds-on favourite in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) and franked that form with a terrific victory in The Everest results as the $4.40 favourite.

Jockey Sam Clipperton got his mount into the ideal one-one position and produced an absolute peach of a ride to get the job done.

“I had such a nice run in the race and travelled so well,” Clipperton said.

“This stuff doesn’t happen, it just went too perfect.

“I guess that’s what very good horses do, maybe even champions, they eliminate the opposition.

“I’m just so privileged to be in a position of riding this horse.

“I had my apprenticeship here at Randwick with Ron Quinton and I know every blade of grass at this joint.

“If you had have told me when I started that I was going to win an Everest well A, The Everest didn’t exist and now it’s exploded into one of the most incredible races in the world and I’m just incredibly proud.

“I can’t believe it. I was visualising this since he won the Premiere, I just thought he’s got too many gears they won’t beat him. I couldn’t say that out loud but that’s what it felt and he’s just proven me right.”

Think About It won The Everest in a slick 1 minute 7.64 seconds to sit just outside the track record of 1:07.32 set by Chris Waller’s 2019 champ Yes Yes Yes.

The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained I Wish I Win ($5) drew the inside alley and jockey Luke Nolen did his best coming with a ducking and weaving run to finish second in a brave effort by the horse.

“He was terrific. The draw probably did us no favours,” Nolen said after jumping off the runner-up.

“I thought he was every hope but brave under the circumstances.

“Just didn’t get the chance to find free air and build. He has run super. The run of the race.

“They run this every year so we got a little bit this year so I hope we get a lot more next year.”

Last year’s runner-up Private Eye ($7) meanwhile was sweating-up pre-race, but that didn’t affect his performance at all as he battled on well after getting caught three-deep without much luck to round out The Everest trifecta in third with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

“That is unbelievable,” Pride told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-win. 

“They both (Private Eye – 3rd) ran terrific.

“I was pretty confident coming into the race that not only my two would run well but Peter Moody’s (trainer of I Wish I Win – 2nd) was the only danger.

“It doesn’t really matter at the end, but I thought they were the three and sure enough they fought it out.”

There looks to be options galore for the 2023 The Everest winner Think About It now who Pride believes is not a genuine 1200m horse and will be even stronger over further this spring.

“It’s going to be a really interesting journey with him, where we go from here,” he said.

“It was an incredible performance to stay at 1200m because after he won the Stradbroke if it wasn’t for The Everest being what it is I never would have aimed him at this race.

“A 1200m race that is, but I’m glad I did.”

2023 The Everest Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.