Track conditions and a more favourable barrier draw saw Positive Thinking break his maiden status in the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1600m on Friday night.
Ridden by Barend Vorster, Positive Thinking scored a commanding five length victory over Destiny Action (Soo Khoon Beng) with Hello Good Buy (Mohd Suhaimi) three lengths away third.
Vorster was 'positive' aboard Positive Thinking from the outset having the gelding racing up outside the pace set by Hello Good Buy and he was happy to sit outside that gelding.
As the hometurn was reached Vorster headed towards the outside fence while Suhaimi stayed down towards the inside.
Positive Thinking quickly had the race under his control and it was left to Destiny Action to come out of the pack and chase down the leader – to no avail.
Trainer Patrick Shaw said Positive Thinking deserved a change of luck after drawing wide barriers in recent starts starts.
“He had been unlucky of late with the draws,” said Shaw. “He was unlucky when wide throughout three starts back behind Full Toss and didn't have luck again next time behind Flying Wild.
“He was back in distance last time when fifth and I think the mile suited him ideally tonight and the soft going also suited.
“He's a stayer and I think the further he goes the better he will like it and what I liked about him tonight he had the race won at the top of the straight he was travelling that easily.”
Vorster said Positive Thinking had been “knocking on the door for a while” and eventually found the right race to win in.
“He's a big individual who gets through the ground quite well,” said Vorster.
“He travelled really well tonight and I was confident he would be hard to beat a long way from home.
“I've also got to say 'happy birthday' to the wife (Nikki) back home.”
Positive Thinking is an Argentinean-bred three-year-old by Equal Stripes from the Ride The Rails mare Paula Sexy and Friday night's victory was his first – on top of five minor placings – in nine starts and he took his prizemoney to around $90,000 for owner Fred Crabbia.
