Think About It poised for back-to-back Kingsford Smith Cups

By Glenn Davis

Only one sprinter in history has claimed back-to-back Kingsford Smith Cup victories but that could change if you listen to Sydney trainer Joe Pride.

The Kingsford Smith, previously known as the BTC Cup, was first run in 1964 but only became a Weight for Age race in 1991, two years before its elevation to Group 1 status in 1996.

Queensland great Buck’s Pride holds the distinction of winning the Kingsford Smith in successive years in the 1993-94 edition of the BTC Cup.

The only other horse to claim two Kingsford Smith Cups (BTC Cups) was another Queenslander, Falvelon, who won in 2000 and 2003.

Pride is confident last year’s winner Think About It can repeat his famous win 12 months ago before a possible attempt at successive wins in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap next month.

Think About It - a Blake Shinn mount - hasn’t raced since running on a waterlogged track in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick on April 6.

However, Pride has given Think About It two barrier trials ahead of his return for the Queensland Racing Carnival.

“He’s had two trials and is going well and he’ll go up on Thursday night with Blake Shinn taking over as his rider,” Pride said.

“Blake is due to win a big race for me after he ran second in three Group 1s during the autumn carnival on Ceolwulf in the Rosehill Guineas and ATC Derby and Private Eye in the Lightning in Melbourne.

"If he finds his best form again, he’ll be very hard to beat.”

Shinn has hit the ground running during the Queensland Racing Carnival after claiming his third Group 1 Doomben Cup last Saturday on the Annabel Neasham-trained Bois D’argent.

His previous Doomben Cup wins were aboard Streama (2014) and Pornichet (2015).

Think About it went on to win the $20 million The Everest after last year’s Stradbroke victory but Pride is not committing the five-year-old to a Stradbroke start this year.

“He’s not locked in for the Stradbroke as not many horses win a Stradbroke with 58kgs,” Pride said.

“I’m very happy with him and I expect him to run well on Saturday but it’s hard to go past I Wish I Win as the one to beat.

“All going well, Think About It will be aimed at defending his title in The Everest in the spring.”

Think About It drew barrier eight for the 1300 metre feature while I Wish I win drew the rails in a 12-horse field.