The newly christened Verry Elleegant Stakes, named in honour of the recently deceased champion mare, witnessed a stunning upset on Saturday at Randwick.
Think It Over wins 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes in a boil-over. Photo: Steve Hart.
Think It Over, trained by Kerry Parker and ridden by Nash Rawiller, defied the odds to claim victory over heavily favored Fangirl, trained by Chris Waller.
The race carried extra weight this year, serving as a tribute to Verry Elleegant’s legacy. Waller, aiming for an emotional 11th win in the renamed race, entered Fangirl, the recent Apollo Stakes winner, as the clear favourite.
However, it was the veteran stayer Think It Over who stole the show.
In a performance reminiscent of his upset win over Fangirl last year at the same track and distance in the $1 million 7 Stakes, Think It Over held off Fangirl’s late charge to secure the victory.
Rawiller’s masterful riding played a key role in the upset.
He strategically positioned Think It Over near the front fourth the fence, conserving energy staying on the inside line before a powerful surge once in the lead.
This tactical ride allowed him to snatch the front and maintain it until the finish line, with Fangirl just a length behind.
This impressive win not only serves as a sweet victory for Think It Over but also positions him as a serious contender for the upcoming Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 13th.
Trainer Kerry Parker couldn’t hide his delight, calling Think It Over “a bottler” and “the best.” He emphasized the horse’s continued passion for racing despite his eight years.
“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 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.”
“He is just a thrill, he’s the best. He loves racing so much.
“You wouldn’t think he’s an eight-year-old, he doesn’t think he’s an eight-year-old. He kept us on our toes down in the stalls today, he was in a bit of a mood. He’s had the game face on all week.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the result.
With this win, Think It Over adds to his already impressive career earnings, nearing $9 million.
He now sets his sights on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, aiming to continue his winning streak and potentially cement his legacy as a champion in his own right.
2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Nash Rawiller | 2 | 59kg | $8.50 | |||
| 2 | 9 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 0.82L | 8 | 57kg | $1.30F | ||
| 3 | 7 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 2.54L | 4 | 59kg | $14 | ||
| 4 | 2 | CASCADIAN (GB) | James Cummings | Tom Marquand | 2.86L | 7 | 59kg | $21 | ||
| 5 | 3 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Zac Lloyd (a) | 4.74L | 6 | 59kg | $81 | ||
| 6 | 8 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea | Tyler Schiller | 6.44L | 5 | 59kg | $101 | ||
| 7 | 6 | NAVAJO PEAK | David Payne | Jason Collett | 7.68L | 3 | 59kg | $18 | ||
| 8 | 5 | JUST FINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 11.21L | 1 | 59kg | $13 | ||
| 10 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 0 | ||||||
| 4 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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