Kerry Parker could barely believe his dream had come true.
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Luke Price was in disbelief his hadn't.
The Kembla Grange trainers were part of an extraordinary day at Rosehill on Saturday, as Parker's Think It Over carried 61 kilograms to secure a $1 million bonus by winning the Rosehill Gold Cup, after previously taking out the Group 2 Hill Stakes and Group 3 Craven Plate.
Less than two hours later, Price's Count De Rupee and apprentice jockey Brock Ryan looked to have the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at their mercy, until Victorian raider I'm Thunderstruck charged late.
Luke's father and co-trainer Robert initially thought the spring plan was 'pie in the sky' and here they were, just a heartbeat from pulling it off.
But in defeat, has an even bigger idea taken shape?
"You never know, in 12 months time, he could be an Everest horse," Price told Sky Racing afterwards.
That would obviously require coming back from the 1500m trip on Saturday to 1200m next year, but four of his five wins in 14 career stars have been over six furlongs and he was an unlucky third in the 1300m Silver Eagle.
And as the architect of the Golden Eagle campaign, who would doubt Price's ability to aim at the richest race in the world.
The Prices and connections still picked up $1.5 million for running second, a career-changing result, even if they were left wondering what could have been.
"I feel like I'm gonna cry because I just got beat," Ryan said. "Super effort. I thought I was the winner from the moment we straightened. Just got run down late."
If there were tears at the Parker stable, they were of pure joy.
Think It Over now has four wins this preparation and more than $4 million in career prizemoney.
Parker had initially wanted to head to the Cox Plate, but COVID restrictions made it impossible for him to travel with the horse. On Sunday, he confirmed Think It Over would spell after becoming a true star of the Sydney scene.
"Although I'm sure he'd happily keep going if we asked him to, he's off the the paddock for a well earned rest and will be back for a tilt at the big Autumn races," Parker wrote on Twitter.
Parker took great pride in the six-year-old gelding completing the mission.
"He gets around the stable (like a superstar), he's enjoying it as much as we are, he's loved every moment of this preparation and it was super to get the job done."
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