The Australian racing community is mourning the loss of a true champion. Everest winner Think About It has died following complications from colic surgery.
A Sudden and Tragic End for a Racing Star
Proven Thoroughbreds, the syndicate that owned the gelding, announced the devastating news on Tuesday. They described the decision to euthanise the horse as heartbreaking, following a turn for the worse after what was initially a successful colic surgery. The procedure was performed at the Randwick Equine Centre.
The team at Proven Thoroughbreds paid tribute to their "once in a lifetime" horse, affectionately known as 'Spud'. In a statement, they expressed their profound sadness, noting that the high-energy competitor had not been able to "cheat death twice".
A Meteoric Rise to the Pinnacle of Racing
Think About It's story captured the imagination of the sport. He emerged from relative obscurity at the start of 2023 to achieve what few horses ever do. His career was a blaze of glory, winning two consecutive Group 1 races before claiming the ultimate prize: the $20 million The Everest at Sydney's Randwick racecourse in October of that year.
That historic victory, where he jumped as the favourite and held off the fast-finishing I Wish I Win, would tragically prove to be the last win of his career. It capped a monumental and rapid ascent to the top of Australian thoroughbred racing.
A Fighter Until the Very End
The champion's fighting spirit was evident long after his retirement from racing. A year after his Everest triumph, Think About It was forced into a battle for his life. He survived what was described as a "massive" pulmonary haemorrhage after a fall in the Sydney Stakes at Randwick.
That scare led to his immediate retirement. He was placed into the care of his regular jockey, Sam Clipperton, who had shared an emotional and triumphant partnership with the horse.
"He tried his absolute guts out every time he raced and that is all any owner, fan, or punter can ever ask for," the Proven Thoroughbreds statement read. They reflected on his relentless style, noting he "applied himself 110 per cent to everything he did, without a great deal of self-preservation."
An Emotional Legacy and a Jockey's Tribute
The memory of his Everest win remains etched in the minds of racing fans, not least for the raw emotion displayed by jockey Sam Clipperton. Fighting back tears in the aftermath of the race, Clipperton gave a heartfelt interview to Channel 7.
"This stuff doesn't happen. It just went too perfect ... I guess that's what very good horses do. I'm just so privileged to be in a position of riding this horse," Clipperton said at the time, describing the win as a pivotal moment in his own career and personal journey.
The syndicate's tribute perhaps summed up the spirit of the horse best, suggesting, "Maybe he was supposed to 'live fast, die young'. RIP Spud."
The passing of Think About It leaves a significant void in Australian racing, marking the end of a short but spectacular career that burned brightly at the very summit of the sport.
