Lightly raced Thinkin’ Big will now head to the 2018 Spring Champion Stakes after scoring an all the way win in the Group 3 $200,000 360DMG Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill today.
Thinkin’ Big, above, leads all of the way to win the Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Thinkin’ Big won two of his three race starts during his two year old season and showed plenty of staying potential at his first run as a three year old with his all the way win against a small but handy field of three year olds.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Thinkin’ Big has shot to the top of the betting at $3.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $500,000 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 6.
Thinkin’ Big was having his first run back since winning a two year old Handicap over 1500m at Rosehill at the end of July but winning jockey Tim Clark had no hesitation in taking the High Chaparral colt straight to the front from from the outside gate in the small five horse field.
Brenton Avdulla on Irukandji tried to put some pressure on the leader in the early stages of the race but Thinkin’ Big ($5) showed his toughness and surged away over the concluding stages to record a two and a half lengths win over the $3 favourite Tarka.
Irukandji ($3.90) battled away in third spot ahead of Panzerfaust ($8.50) and Tavirun ($4.40).
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said that Thinkin’ Big will have his next run in the Spring Champion Stakes and then head to Melbourne to prepare to run in the Group 1 $2m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 3.
“He is a very professional colt and a really exciting horse for us going forward,” Bott said.
“There was a little bit of pressure, a little bit more than expected and it was good to see that when Tim asked him, he came straight back underneath him. He relaxed and got some beautiful sections there mid race and got into a lovely rhythm and he showed a beautiful turn of foot when asked.”
“He will back up in two weeks time and go to the Spring Champion and then down to the Derby in Victoria and I think there is definite improvement in there.”
