Co-trainer Paul Messara is confident his decision to sidestep last week’s Hot Danish Stakes could prove a masterstroke when his in-form mare Clear Thinking lines up in the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle on Saturday.
The six-year-old daughter of So You Think has compiled an impressive record, winning five of her seven career starts, including a dominant victory in the Kosciuszko (1200m) last month. On that occasion, she stormed home from midfield to claim the lucrative country feature in style.
While Clear Thinking has been Group placed, she has yet to register a black-type victory, and Messara believes The Hunter presents the perfect chance to achieve that milestone.
“The way it’s worked out, that’s probably the better race for us,” Messara said.
“She has been working very well, it’s 1300, and it’s not too far from home.
“It’s a good prizemoney race and the Hot Danish, with the set weights, I thought she’d be better off in The Hunter.”
Messara said the race’s placement at the end of the carnival could also work in their favour.
“Where it falls at the end of the carnival, it’s hopefully a touch softer than some of these very competitive races so we’re hopeful she can springboard off this to other things.”
Clear Thinking’s Kosciuszko triumph came first-up, and Messara has been patient since, spacing her runs while keeping the mare fresh for another big effort.
He said the primary goal for now was to get valuable black-type on her record before looking ahead to the autumn features in Sydney.
“We’re keen to get her some black type, that’s the key for her, just to nail down her residual value,” he said.
“There are a couple of other races potentially for her heading towards December. But also, it will depend on how far we think she is going to run so we’ll just take it race by race.”
A capacity field of 16 will contest The Hunter, including Joe Pride’s strong team of Coal Crusher, Estadio Mestalla, Accredited and Golden Mile. Hawkes Racing, who won the race last year with Briasa, will be represented by Airman this time around.
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