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By Ray Hickson

Think About It has work to do to get close to the feats of some of his illustrious stablemates but trainer Joe Pride says the four-year-old is all potential and it’s up to the horse to realise it.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos)

And an extra 30 or 40kg added to his frame since his first preparation has Pride confident Think About It has made the physical improvement he needed and can kick off his second campaign on the right foot in the Vinery Yearlings Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

The gelding has only raced three times for two dynamic provincial wins and an unlucky third on his home track at the end of August.

“He’s very progressive, who knows where he ends up. He’s a very exciting horse,’’ Pride said.

“He’s been a very immature horse but you can see now he’d be a good 30-40kg heavier, he was basically a coat hanger last prep. He’s beefed up and he looks good.

“Weight is strength, weight is speed. He’s not a robust horse, what he carries on his frame is just muscle and he’ll be a better horse for that.”

Pride is not one to put the cart before the horse, in reality Think About It is racing in his right grade for now.

That said, as a $2.40 favourite with TAB on Tuesday, there is a bit expected of him first-up.

“He’s got a long way to go, he’s a benchmark 64 horse, but he looks really promising,’’ he said.

“He’ll go through his grades, this is his next obvious step and if he can win there he can come to a Saturday race.

“He was genuinely unlucky last start, it was run of the race stuff he got shuffled back into an awkward spot but I thought he ran well.”

Rory Hutchings has partnered Think About It in all three starts but won’t be on board at Warwick Farm through suspension so Pride gave Sam Clipperton the ride in his latest trial to get a sense for the horse.

From gate two with only eight rivals, it’s not likely Think About It will concede as much start as he did in his only defeat.

“He’s always had speed, I’ve just never used it. I wouldn’t want him too close but he’s not going to be dragged back in the field,’’ Pride said.

Meanwhile, TAB Everest runner-up Private Eye will be kept to distances at 1400m or below this year with the Group 1 $3m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and another Everest campaign his major targets for 2023.

Pride is thinking long term with the versatile sprinter-miler who at five years old is only just reaching full maturity.

“He looks amazing, I can’t wait for the prep,’’ he said.

“He’s just at that point of his life where you think it’s going to unfold for him, it’s already started to but I’d love to think he could race for another two, three seasons, yet maybe four.

“This horse is as scary as he is exciting. The potential he has got is just unbelievable.”

Think About It wins a Warwick Farm trial on January 3

And star sprinter Eduardo will follow a familiar autumn kick off point and chase a third straight Challenge Stakes (1000m) though an attempt at a second Group 1 Galaxy will be in the hands of the handicapper.

“I’m happy with him, he owes us nothing and has done a fantastic job,’’ he said.

“He looks like he’s coming up well again so we’ll dip our toe back in the water and throw him in the Challenge Stakes and see how we go.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting