Former Everest winner Think About It retired after scary fall at Randwick

Star sprinter Think About it went down in a frightening fall coming around the final turn of the Group 3 Sydney Stakes at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday. The six-year-old thankfully survived the fall. Jockey Jason Collett was also fortunate to come away from the crash unharmed.

On Sunday, Proven Thoroughbreds and trainer Joe Pride announced that Think About it will not race again. The two-time Group 1 winner and The Everest champion has been retired.

Bleeding attack brings champion down

While everyone’s eyes were on Overpass during the final stretch of the Sydney Stakes pack on Saturday, Think About It was experiencing one of a trainer’s worst fears.

The veteran gelding suffered a significant pulmonary haemorrhage during the race. He lost his balance around the last turn. After staggering uncontrollably for a few strides, Think About it went down at the start of the final stretch.

It was truly a horrific scene. Somehow, though, both jockey Jason Collett and Think About It were able to walk away from Randwick with minimal injury.

Proven Thoroughbreds and Think About It’s trainer, Joe Pride, described the incident as a miracle.

“Miraculously though, after a significant pulmonary haemorrhage, our great horse bravely stood to his feet and soon after was walking back to his stall, once again showing how tough he is,” the company said in a statement on Saturday.

“Providing any potential infection doesn’t materialise, it now appears likely that he will survive,” Proven Thoroughbreds added.

‘Risk to great’

Think About It may have been able to walk back to his stall at Randwick on Saturday, but he will never race again.

Proven Thoroughbreds announced on Sunday that Think About It has been retired.

The company explained, “To state the obvious, the risk of a repeat of yesterday is simply too great to contemplate any racing future for Think About It, so he has been retired.”

Proven Thoroughbreds also relayed a statement from trainer Joe Pride about Think About It’s status.

“He's actually quite bright , he's gotta be sore from the fall alone but he's not showing it,” Pride said.

Trainer pays tribute

Think About It, or Spud as many people at Proven Thoroughbreds call him, finishes his career with a 19-11:1:2 record and over $12 million in prize money earned.

The top sprinter won two Group 1 races in his career, the Kingsford Smith Cup and the Stradbroke Handicap. The gelding also famously won the 2023 Everest over I Wish I Win last October.

Proven Thoroughbreds reflected on Think About It’s long career and his Everest win in their announcement of his retirement.

“At least there is something poetic about cheating death 12 months to the day from his Everest triumph,” they said.

“Thank you for everything Spud.”