A Stakes victory is on the horizon for Shady Thinker, but the Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor-trained galloper must first navigate a less prestigious race at Morphettville.
The five-year-old So You Think gelding is set to contest the MM Electrical Handicap (1600m) this Saturday, with Bain expressing confidence that the horse will be difficult to beat.
Shady Thinker holds a nomination for the Listed John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Tuesday, but Bain indicated that the benchmark 72 contest on Saturday is the preferred target at this stage of the gelding’s campaign.
“He’s looking for the mile, and possibly further,” Bain said.
“He’s nominated for the John Letts on Tuesday over 1800 metres, but we’ll more than likely run on Saturday, given it’s too hard a race to pass up.”
Bain added his ambition for the horse’s career: “I’d be disappointed if when he retires that he hasn’t won a Stakes race of some sort and that might be a 1600-metre, 1800-metre race.”
“He wouldn’t be out of place in a John Letts, but Saturday’s race on the way through in that grade, is too hard to pass up.”
The trainer also noted, “There’s our summer carnival early next year, so there’s plenty of time.”
Shady Thinker boasts a record of three wins and two placings from his 10 starts. Bain pointed out the gelding’s strong aversion to wet racing surfaces.
Bain recalled sending the gelding to Sydney last year, where he performed well at Rosehill before encountering a wet track at Kembla Grange and subsequently disappointing.
“When he came back from New South Wales, he had a few little niggles and needed a little bit of time,” Bain explained.
“He’s a very talented galloper. His first two runs back this preparation were on soft tracks.”
“We had a long and extended winter here and we had to run him in those races for fitness purposes and it wasn’t until third-up that he saw a dry track and ran very well.”
“Then fourth-up, last start, he should have won, and I’d be very surprised getting out to the mile if he got beaten on Saturday.”
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