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By Ray Hickson

Two barrier trials have been more than enough to tell new jockey Jason Collett that reigning TAB Everest champion Think About It can make a case for a last minute berth in the $20 million sprint.

Jockey Jason Collett (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Vacant slots are far from plentiful two weeks out from the Everest so notching back-to-back wins in the Group 2 $1 million Precise Air Premiere Stakes (1200m) is almost essential.

His trainer Joe Pride also has dual Everest placegetter Private Eye awaiting a call up for a third attempt and hopes at least one of his two star sprinters can secure a place in the race.

For his part Collett said the six-year-old has felt quite sharp in his two barrier trial appearances since his unsuccessful autumn campaign so can see no reason why he shouldn’t recapture his best.

“I think he’s always been a sprinter, he’s a very athletic horse and he’s just a very good horse,’’ Collett said.

“I’d expect him to run a big race, Joe is confident. They don’t lose that ability, I’d be pretty surprised if he doesn’t perform.”

It’s a vastly different scenario to 12 months ago for Think About It who was selected for the Everest of 2023 prior to his Stradbroke win and Pride had the luxury of preparing him specifically for the race.

Despite not having that early slot this year he’s taken the same approach by returning in the Premiere on the back of two trials in September.

He’s been placed in both trials and Collett’s observation of the second, when run down by a pushed out Corniche, is that he’d appreciate a more genuine tempo which he hopes to get on race day.

“He’s trialled really nice both times, there was no speed and he needed a bit of a bunny in the second trial,’’ he said.

“I sat outside the leader and when I hit the front he just felt like he needed something to hunt down.

“They’re the top sprinters going around in the Premiere so I’d like to think there’ll be enough pressure where he’ll get that bunny and he can hunt it down.”

Pride concurs that Think About It thrives on a bit of pressure in his races and he would be disappointed if the gelding didn’t find himself right in the finish.

He didn’t have the best autumn campaign, one that was hampered by barrier draws – he drew 7 of 7 in his Canterbury Stakes second placing, then 16 of 18 when fifth in the George Ryder and 13 of 19 in the Doncaster Mile.

He’s come up with the outside gate in the Premiere but with speedy stablemates Mazu and Coal Crusher engaged it’s likely he’ll have something to gun down in the straight.

“This horse has always been best when he gets a good strong tempo in a race and I think we’re going to get that,’’ Pride said.

“It’s exciting, he’s a horse that’s still only lightly raced. Who knows, the best might be yet to come.”

Mazu showed a glimpse of his best form when he ran a gutsy third in The Shorts (1100m) on a good track two weeks ago and as much as it was a relief to Pride to see him return so well it wasn’t a shock.

Think About It runs second in a Canterbury trial on September 24

It’s likely he’ll continue on to the Group 3 $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) on Everest Day while Coal Crusher is being targeted at a defence of his crown in The Hunter at Newcastle next month.

“I knew he was going to run really well and he ran to a very high standard for a first-up run on a dry track,’’ Pride said of Mazu.

“He should definitely continue on with that.

“Coal Crusher will run a lot better. I didn’t want him having a gut buster first up and he’s just a horse you’ve got to let roll.”

All the fields, form and replays for TAB Epsom Day at Randwick on Saturday