It was looking dire for the odds-on favourite Clear Thinking (GB) when strung up behind a wall of horses halfway down the straight before finding clear air to charge home to capture the Tab Highway Hcp (1200m) at Randwick and keep her record at a perfect three for three.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, the 4-year-old daughter of Dubawi defeated the Smart Missile gelding Tanglewood with the Dream Ahead (USA) gelding Lisztomania back in third.
Lloyd revealed the trouble started early.
“She slipped quite badly behind, and I thought, this is a stitch up; oh no, I’m behind all these horses now,” Lloyd said.
“You would not find a slower run Highway. For a horse that they have had trouble settling, in amongst them at her third start in a slow run race.
“I don’t know how she did it. I was saved by a very good horse.
“I was excited to ride her, and she exceeded my expectations. Not many horses could have won from where she was. She had to maneuver through tight runs at only her third start, and the last 200m was fantastic.
Clear Thinking debuted in June with an eight-length romp over 100m at Scone and followed that up with another dominant performance over 1200m on the same track a fortnight later.
Bred by Queen Elizabeth II, Clear Thinking (GB) carries the colours of part-owner Arrowfield Stud after being purchased as a broodmare prospect before the decision was made to give her a chance on the track.
The daughter of Dubawi is the third winner from four to race for the top-class Snitzel mare Sweet Idea, a sister to dual Group II winner Showtime.
A $240,000 Magic Millions purchase for Gai Waterhouse and James Harron Bloodstock, Sweet Idea won and placed in eight of her 19 starts with earnings of $2.4million. At two, she placed in the Golden Slipper and Magic Millions 2YO Classic, with a career highlight coming at four when winning the Group I ATC The Galaxy.
Consigned to the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Sweet Idea was knocked down to part-owner Nick Vass for $1.6million before selling to bloodstock agent John Warren, acting for The Queen.
