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Last year’s Everest winner Think About It has drawn a wide gate in a big field in the Sydney Stakes.
Trainer Joe Pride has flagged his intention for Think About It to press forward in the Sydney Stakes in a bid to overcome a wide draw in the $2 million race at Randwick.
One of three acceptors in Saturday's Sydney Stakes (1200m) for the Pride stable along with Mazu and Coal Crusher, last year's The Everest winner Think About It came up with barrier 16 of 18 on Wednesday.
"He just keeps drawing out wide," Pride said.
Pride, who says he still he still hasn't given up on Think About It possibly getting into Saturday's The Everest as one of four emergencies declared for that race, feels the gelding is going well enough to make his presence felt in the Sydney Stakes despite the draw.
"He's going really well," Pride said.
"He had no luck first-up and he's got a wide draw again but we'll just try to let him roll forward up and out of trouble.
"With such a big field you'd tend to think there'll be a lot of pressure and the field will string out a bit, so that will help him."
Last start Manikato Stakes winner Southport Tycoon is the early favourite for the Sydney Stakes in a field which includes the likes of Overpass, Premiere Stakes winner Airman and Group 1-winning mares Lady Laguna and Climbing Star.
Think About It resumed in the Premiere Stakes and went back in the field from a wide draw before running on late for sixth, with Mazu second and Coal Crusher fifth in the same event.
"Think About It has shown in the past that he's probably got the highest peak of the three horses," Pride said, when assessing his Sydney Stakes contenders.
"The other horses maybe have been a bit more consistent in the past 12 months but if they get even luck on Saturday I would think Think About It would beat the other two.
"But stranger things have happened."
Pride believes Mazu is probably set for a peak performance this campaign and will be suited should there be a rain-affected surface.
"It's his third run back and you'd make an argument for him being good enough to be in that Everest field as well, really," Pride said.
"And he looks like he might get his wet track, which he just improves two or three lengths on."
Coal Crusher is on a path towards another tilt at The Hunter at Newcastle, a race he won last year, and Pride says he is building nicely into his campaign.
"This run and the next one will top him off really well for Newcastle, but he's close to winning," Pride said.
"I liked his run the other day, I thought it was full of merit. He went too slow but still kept boxing on."
