Take two for the long-awaited debut of the royally-bred Clear Thinking (GB), which proved worth the wait when she slammed the field by upwards of eight lengths in the Vinery's Hawaii Five Oh Maiden Plate (1000m) at Scone on Tuesday.
Scratched at the barriers at Newcastle on May 25 when refusing to load, the 4-year-old daughter of Dubawi was on her best behaviour on her home track.
Amongst the leading group on jumping, Clear Thinking (GB) was under double wraps from Aaron Bullock before being asked for an effort at the 300m to win by a widening eight and a quarter lengths from the 2-year-old Pride Of Dubai debutant Bonnie Dubai with the 3-year-old Written Tycoon gelding Saratoga Power back in third.
Trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, Clear Thinking (GB) was bred by Queen Elizabeth II and carries the colours of part-owner Arrowfield Stud.
Imported to Australia in February 2003, Clear Thinking (GB) was purchased as a broodmare prospect before the decision was made to give her a chance on the track.
Paul Messara said it was a huge thrill for the stable.
"Things didn't go right at the barriers at Newcastle. A couple of little changes, and she was great today. She jumped well, controlled the race, and sprinted well at the finish," Paul Messara said.
"She is a beautifully bred mare. We bought her as a breeding prospect, but when she got here, we thought she had a bit of racing in her.
"She has just kept improving, and there is a lot of upside for sure.
"She is by Dubawi and was owned by the Royal Family. She had a few little problems as a 2-year-old, but they have been ironed out, and she is a lovely mare for the future.
"She's on her way, and that is as impressive as you could start them."
The daughter of Dubawi is the third winner from four to race for the Snitzel mare Sweet Idea.
A $240,000 Magic Millions purchase for Gai Waterhouse and James Harron Bloodstock, Sweet Idea banked over $2.4 million with eight wins and eight places from 19 starts. At two, she placed in the Golden Slipper and Magic Millions 2YO Classic, with a career highlight coming at four when winning the Group I ATC The Galaxy.
Consigned to the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Sweet Idea was knocked down to part-owner Nick Vass for $1.6million before selling to bloodstock agent John Warren, acting for The Queen.
A sister to multiple Group II winner Showtime, Sweet Idea has been quite disappointing early in her broodmare career.
Her first two foals were by Galileo. The first was the filly Companionship, whose lone win from five starts came on the all-weather at Chelmsford at two.
The second was the colt General Idea, who has one win in 22 starts and had one start over the jumps at Roscommon, where he trailed the winner by 40 lengths after being sold for 4,500gns.
Clear Thinking (GB) is the third foal, and she is followed by the Kingman filly King's Ginger, who has not been since finishing midfield on debut over 6f at Nottingham at two last October.
