Think Big is a legendary winner of the Melbourne Cup. The bay gelding won the race twice in a row in 1974 and 1975.
In achieving back-to-back wins Think Big quickly emulated Rain Lover’s achievements of 1968 and 1969. He would be the last dual winner until 2004 when Makybe Dive won her second Cup, though she even went on to win a third.
Check out more about this great horse, and his Melbourne Cup wins.
About Think Big
Think Big was foaled in New Zealand in 1970. A bay, he was bred by the Estate of LA Alexander. After a sparkling racing career, he died in February 1995 at 25 years old.
The horse was bought by star trainer Bart Cummings on behalf of Dato Tan Chin Nam, a Malaysian businessman and prominent racehorse owner. He cost $10,000 at the yearling sales at Trentham in New Zealand.
As a racehorse, Think Big was co-owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam and Rick O’Sullivan. The original owner and the Queensland property developer later included Tanku Adbul, Malaysian Prime Minister. Cummings also kept a share in the horse.
Despite landing two Melbourne Cups, Think Big was not a prolific winner. He did manage to add the 1974 Hotham Handicap to his list of successes, however.
In landing back-to-back Melbourne Cups, Think Big put himself on a very small and exclusive list.
Think Big’s Melbourne Cup Wins
Popular galloper Think Big won both the 1974 and 1975 Melbourne Cups at Flemington.
Ridden by Harry White, a top-class jockey, Think Big was fairly well fancied but he was thought to have had his work cut out against Leilani who was also trained by Bart Cummings. She wasn’t the only other major challenger either.
In the end, her stablemate was to be victorious. Think Big ran down the field late on to hand Cummings his fourth Melbourne Cup. It was far from his last. This was his third 1-2 in the Melbourne Cup, an amazing achievement.
After running below-par in the MacKinnon Stakes, Think Big was as big as 33/1 for the 1975 Melbourne Cup.
Handed 58kg to carry, he hadn’t won at all since taking the Cup in1974. Harry White however knew how to get a tune out of him at his favourite venue. With another fine late rattle, Think Big scored again and once more provided Cummings with the Quinella, his Holiday Waggon finishing second.
