Nowra-born trainer Kerry Parker has made no attempts to play down the challenge his star gelding Think It Over faces at Randwick on Saturday.
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Lining up next to Verry Elleegant, arguably the best horse in the country, the Kembla runner faces a significant task to take out the Group 1 George Main Stakes.
Parker, however, is quietly confident Think It Over will be up to the task.
Already a Group 2 winner over 1600 metres this prep, the six-year-old is perfectly suited to the big Randwick straight, while Verry Elleegant is early in a prep that will likely conclude in the Melbourne Cup.
"It's a proper race, they don't give Group 1s away," Parker said.
"He's racing the best horse in Australia at the moment.
"He's just got to turn up and do his best.
"He's racing really well and they'll know he's in the race at the finish."
The result of Saturday's contest will play a key role in determining the path to the Cox Plate, with Parker to sit down with the owners to map out a firm plan.
COVID restrictions could result in the trainer remaining in Sydney for the Epsom Handicap or the Hill Stakes on October 2 before a hit and run mission to Melbourne later in the month.
The other option is to run in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington as a final tune up for the Cox Plate.
"The restrictions do make it very difficult to head down to Melbourne," Parker said.
"The other side of that is if we have a first run at Flemington, running the opposite direction, it's better than going straight into Moonee Valley first start."
Parker also has Tampering in the Midway on Saturday.
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