Nash Rawiller and Kerry Parker have combined with Think It Over (+800) to secure victory in the newly named Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon.
The now three-time Group 1 winner was given an elite steer by Rawiller pinching all the ground towards the inside running rail before fending off all rivals.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Just Fine (+1000) ensured a genuine tempo throughout the 1600m journey, as the returning Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) winner strode forward under Regan Bayliss, knocking up badly in the concluding stages.
After a dominant performance first-up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Fangirl (-333.33) was searching to justify the short quote, ridden with confidence at the rear of the field by James McDonald.
She made a late charge in the shadows of the post when being unleashed down the centre of the course, but it was to no avail as Think It Over was already off and gone with the prize, Overturning a three-length defeat from the Apollo Stakes.
Lindermann (+1400) and Cascadian (+2000) were left to fight for the final spot in the top three, as the former was able to cling onto the minor money.
It was all about the winner, however, as the incredible story of this warhorse eight-year-old continues to be written.
An emotional Kerry Parker was on course to witness the victory and praised the win of his stable star before suggesting the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) would be the likely target next time out.
“Everyone thinks he's a giant-killer, I just think he's a giant,” Parker said.
“I think they've got to get past him and he has proved that again today.
“Nash (Rawiller) took some short cuts, I'm sure that helped at the end, but he really bounced off his first-up run and I was looking forward to the challenge today.
“It's always good to get a Group One under your belt.
“He's just a bottler. He doesn't know he is an eight-year-old, he is loving it.
“He will just head towards the Queen Elizabeth, that's our main goal this prep, so far so good.
“The way he carried on today, it was like he was when he was a four-year-old. He's always bouncing around the track, he doesn't know he's an eight-year-old. He feels bright and he keeps me going too.”
Nash Rawiller couldn't have been happier with the performance of his mount, who always gives him a great feel in the saddle, going on to compare the win to the 2022 Queen Elizabeth victory.
“He brings the best out of me, that's for sure,” said Rawiller.
“He is one of those horses you get so much confidence riding and I live riding for Kerry. He always give me the confidence to be confident on him.
“He never likes shift ground but today, I asked Zac Lloyd earlier what it was like down the side and he said his was a wet tracker but it didn't miss a beat.
“I kept that in mind and you go out two or three horses (wide) and that is where everyone is trying to get to.
“We were just able to slide through and clear enough where we wanted to get to.
“I was trying to put into words recently what it felt like to win the Queen Elizabeth but, geez, this comes pretty close.
“To know where this horse has been, and the things they've had to go through to get him back to this form, it is pretty emotional.”
Think It Over is now on the third line of betting at +600 for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 13.