Only about 10% of racehorses who win maidens, manage to grace the winner’s circle at their very next run. It’s invariably a promising sign for the future.
So connections of THINK GLORY were understandably chuffed to see the 4YO mare snare a BM62 at Ipswich Thursday over the same course and distance at which she’d dispensed of her maiden tag just over a fortnight earlier.
“Encouraging to see her take a sit and finish the race off,” co-trainer Matt Hoysted revealed after the success over 1350m.
“She was always very sharp early doors wanting to do things at 100 miles an hour but with the addition of ear muffs and a fair bit of time & patience from the owners, hopefully we can start reaping the rewards now.”
Rider Boris Thornton, a late replacement for Baylee Nothdurft, was refreshingly humble in his post-race summary.
“Look, I don’t think I gave her that many favours in the run. Approaching the 600 when the horse in front went one off she half grabbed the bridle and I thought I’d just let her slide but in hindsight I should have waited another 50 to 100 metres and given her more of a breather before I let her slide around. So she actually did it really tough from just inside the 600m.”
Hoysted believes the mare will get over longer trips now she’s settling much better in her races and build on her 9:2-1-2 record. By SO YOU THINK, the mare was an $80k purchase from Bhima Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions January Sale and her victory was Proven’s 23rd of the season.
No less than 20 of those wins have come from the white hot O’Dea/Hoysted stable which has seen the training partnership rise to a clear 2nd on the QLD Metro Trainers’ Premiership, eight astern of Tony Gollan.