The Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over kept the wins coming with a brilliant first-up performance to defeat a field of Group 1 horses in Randwick’s Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
Think It Over was outstanding first-up in the 2022 Apollo Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
The six-year-old son of So You Think absolutely dominated the 2022 Apollo Stakes results late setting himself up for a stellar autumn to rival his outstanding spring campaign.
Think It Over won his Group 1 debut last March in the George Ryder Stakes and was good last prep winning four of his six starts including his past three on the trot finished-up by the $750,000 Rosehill Cup (2000m).
Fresh over 1400m he was able to add to his strong first-up record, jockey Nash Rawiller riding the eventual Apollo Stakes winner to perfection from a wide draw.
I Am Superman lead the outside setting a hectic pace up front with Riodini second and keen to challenge.
Those two put a gap on the rest of the field and Rawiller was happy to settle third stalking the pace as they really strung out with 16 lengths covering first to last approaching the turn for home.
Chris Waller’s returning Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant was second and then third last throughout finishing off well in the end without challenging over the too-short distance.
With the tearaway leaders tiring, Think It Over made his move in the final furlong giving chase at the 200m going straight past I Am Superman and charging home for a powerhouse victory.
On the scene late in a lovely autumn kick-off for second was the star Godolphin-raced mare Colette, while Special Reward rounded out the Apollo Stake trifecta in third.
“You could tell Tommy (Berry on I Am Superman) was going to try and use his fitness to his advantage,” Rawiller told the media post-race.
“You are in a Catch 22. I’m on the best horse who we know is certainly not wound up for this race. But he was ready to do his job.
“It’s exciting to be on him when they do that. He was more confident than me at the 600m. I was still worried what was behind us. The horse just trotted along behind them.
“He travelled like the winner. I’ve watched it before on TV after a race. May have had a scotch in my hand that night but he looks like Kingston Town coming into a race. Just a beautiful horse.”
It was a one-act affair in the end with Group 1 options galore for Think It Over including the $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) back at the track on February 26th.
Contributer (2015) and Winx (2016, 2017 & 2019) are the latest gallopers to complete the Apollo Stakes – Chipping Norton Stakes double.
Think It Over is now into $3 favouritism in all-in 2022 Chipping Norton Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au – full markets available here.
2022 Apollo Stakes Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Nash Rawiller | 10 | 59kg | $6 | |||
| 2 | 10 | COLETTE | James Cummings | Tim Clark | 2.74L | 4 | 57kg | $8 | ||
| 3 | 5 | SPECIAL REWARD | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 3.14L | 3 | 59kg | $17 | ||
| 4 | 4 | I AM SUPERMAN (IRE) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tommy Berry | 3.91L | 13 | 59kg | $8 | ||
| 4 | 12 | HUNGRY HEART | Chris Waller | Chad Schofield | 3.91L | 6 | 57kg | $26 | ||
| 6 | 11 | ICEBATH (NZ) | Brad Widdup | Kerrin McEvoy | 4.28L | 12 | 57kg | $9.50 | ||
| 7 | 9 | VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 4.46L | 1 | 57kg | $4.40F | ||
| 8 | 7 | SIKANDARABAD (IRE) | Sam Kavanagh | Reece Jones (a) | 4.53L | 11 | 59kg | $201 | ||
| 9 | 14 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Joshua Parr | 5.69L | 8 | 57kg | $61 | ||
| 10 | 6 | RIODINI (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Rachel King | 5.74L | 9 | 59kg | $8.50 | ||
| 11 | 2 | KOLDING (NZ) | Chris Waller | Sam Clipperton | 6.64L | 5 | 59kg | $19 | ||
| 12 | 13 | SHE’S IDEEL | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 9.24L | 7 | 57kg | $41 | ||
| 13 | 8 | MAXIMAL (GB) | John O’Shea | Hugh Bowman | 9.55L | 2 | 58.5kg | $10 | ||
| 3 | CASCADIAN (GB) | James Cummings | Regan Bayliss | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
