- Former winner of The Everest raced in Sydney Stakes
- Shocked spectators when it collapsed mid-race
A leading jockey has been praised for his quick thinking and bravery after a horrific fall at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse last weekend.
Champion racehorse Think About It, who won the 2023 edition of The Everest, has officially retired after the six-year-old collapsed in the Sydney Stakes last Saturday.
There were shocking scenes as jockey Jason Collett was thrown from his horse mid-race, with commentators concerned for both horse and rider.
But in astonishing scenes, Collett quickly stood up and showed no regard for his own safety as he ran to the horse to comfort him.
‘Graphic images [but] I’d like to hear it. Think about it. From now on you will live like a king now that you are retired,” racing analyst John Wall wrote on social media platform X.
‘But huge respect for Jason Collett who tries to comfort the horse without any hesitation in an incredibly dangerous situation.’
Think About It, sired by two-time Cox Plate champion So You Think, was clearly in trouble on the track and Collett said his first instinct was to try to get him back on his feet.
“I’m doing well and amazingly the horse has walked back to the stables,” Collett said.
‘They don’t. I thought he was broken, but he bled to death.’
Jockey Jason Collett has been praised for his bravery after his horse crashed onto the turf at the Sydney Stakes at Randwick last Saturday
Collett was thrown from his horse Think About It mid-race, but bravely ran back to care for the stricken animal
Thank About It had suffered a hemorrhagic attack but was able to walk back to the stables and immediately stopped racing
RacingNSW later confirmed that Think About It had suffered a haemorrhagic attack but would make a full recovery.
Collett’s bravery was praised by racing fans.
‘It is very disturbing to see the animal in these situations. Well done Jason for not abandoning his post during this very upsetting time,” one person wrote.
‘It shows how much love there is for these animals. Anyone who owned a horse knows that what Jason did was selfless. He risked himself to comfort the horse. Legend,” praised another supporter.
‘Incredibly brave and selfless. Talking about emotional intelligence. So calm under pressure. Congratulations Jason,” added another.
It was a horrifying moment for trainer Joseph Pride, who feared the worst as he ran onto the track to check on Think About It.
‘I walked down the straight. It was about 400 meters up – just a slow, painful walk, alone. I feared the worst,” Pride said.
‘But then I saw his head appear above the screen. It was great. I just thought ‘Aahh, what a relief’.
‘I still didn’t know what was wrong with him, but just the fact that he was on his feet was such a relief. The difference between him not leaving Randwick Racecourse and him bringing back a happy and healthy horse was just a huge relief.”
The decision to immediately stop Think About It was an easy one for the trainer.
‘I couldn’t possibly risk him again. It was a major bleed, so it was an easy decision,” Pride said.
‘He’s bright and happy. I was quite surprised. I walked into the stable this morning and he’s hanging his head out the door. He looked like any other day after a race.
‘I don’t want to say he should race again or anything, but I’m just saying I’m so happy to see him this morning. I can’t even believe he doesn’t even seem to be in pain from the crash. He rolled over and at high speed they were going about 60 km/h.”