Former Everest winner Think About It may be getting a new jockey this week. Victorian-based jockey Blake Shinn is heading to Sydney and Warwick Farm this Tuesday to ride the six-year-old gelding in an 800m barrier trial. This move comes just a few weeks ahead of Think About It’s title defence at the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) on June 1 at Eagle Farms.
Sam Clipperton has been Think About It’s jockey for the past 15 months.
After a weekend full of big races all across Australia, we looked ready for a relatively slow news week. Trainer Joe Pride revealed on Sunday, however, that we can all look forward to a big jockey shake up this week.
When asked about his horse, Think About It, Joe Pride revealed “He trials on Tuesday and Blake Shinn is going to come up and ride him.”
Shinn, who recently dominated the Hong Kong racing circuit, will make the trip to Sydney to trial the horse in an 800m barrier run.
Think About It is widely-regarded as one of Sydney’s top horses. He’s not lived up to that reputation in the autumn carnival campaign so far. Trainer Joe Pride now thinks it could be time for a change of jockey.
The veteran trainer was asked about whether he had lost faith in Think About It. Pride was adamant that this was not the case.
“Not really, he’s only had three runs and everything went wrong,” Pride said.
This has led many to assume that it was jockey Sam Clipperton who Pride blamed for Think About It’s poor run. However, the trainer was willing to admit that the gelding may not turn his form around.
“He’s back to a track [that he] is two from two at, and if I stuck him in the paddock now I’d be giving him an eight or nine week break when he doesn’t look like he needs it.
“If he doesn’t do any good in this, I’ll give him a proper break, but I think he’ll be fine. The signs he’s showing at home are excellent.”
The race Pride mentioned in his comments about Think About It not doing good in is the upcoming Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup. The gelding is the reigning champion of this Eagle Farm race.
“He’s off to the races for the Kingsford Smith and he’s super,” Pride said.
Going on current form, Think About It is not one of the betting sites’ favourites to repeat as champion in 2024. However, a change in jockey might also change the horse’s fortune.
