Clear Thinking wins fourth straight, eyeing Country Championships

John Messara may have one of Australia’s biggest rising stars in Clear Thinking. His mare continued her perfect start to her career with an emphatic win in the Highway Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The five year old showed her class with a surging run down the stretch to win the Class 3 race by just over half a length. Highway Strip ($2.7), one of the betting sites favourites, finished runner-up. Brett Cavanough’s Joiselle ($16) finished third after an impressive run of her own.

Four in four

The start to Clear Thinking’s horse racing career could not have gone any better. That’s not hyperbole either.

The mare has won all four of her first four competitive starts. In fact, she has never finished worse than third, which she did in an open trial back in December while she was preparing for the 2025 autumn season.

“She just finds a way to win…It was really nice to see her do it again today. It was tricky there for a little bit, they ran along and it was a really good contest,” said trainer Messara following her latest win at Randwick on Saturday.

Her jockey, Aaron Bullock, agreed with Massara that it was a strong run from Clear Thinking. He also cited his connection with the mare as a reason for the big win.

“She's very good,” Bullock said.

“I found a nice rhythm. There was good speed on, but every time I gave her a little click, I had another gear, another gear, another gear and she did the rest.

“I had to do a little bit of navigating through some of those horses tiring late, but she is a lovely horse.”

“She will go up”

After dominating lower levels to start her career, it’s clear to everyone that Clear Thinking is ready to test herself against higher quality competition.

It’s too early for Group 1 races, but Massara agrees that it’s time to move up a level.

"It's four from four for her now and she will go up in company next start but down in weight.” he explained after Saturday’s race.

“I think the 1200 is still her trip and she will strip fitter for today.”

Stakes race next, Country Championships a possibility

When asked about which races his team has in mind for Clear Thinking, Massara revealed that the Group 3 Triscay Stakes at Randwick on February 15 will be the mare’s next race.

We don’t know exactly where Clear Thinking will rank in the betting odds list for that race yet. But don’t be surprised to see her name mentioned among potential contenders in Randwick tips pieces next month.

If the Triscay Stakes goes well, Messara says Clear Thinking could get a shot in the Group 1 Country Championships in April.

“We will go to her next start and see how she goes. The Country Championships is a little while away now so we’ve got time to work that out,” Messara said.