Tim Clark is looking on the bright side after having to sacrifice the ride on in-form colt and Stradbroke Handicap contender Perast.

The Sydney jockey was unable to make weight to ride the Paul Perry-trained three-year-old, who was allocated a mere 50kg for the $1.5 million Group One Stradbroke Handicap over 1350m at Doomben on Saturday.

Clark was aboard Perast in his wins in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1350m) and Group Three Fred Best Classic (1350m).

Premier Brisbane jockey Jeff Lloyd has been booked to ride Perast while Clark renews his association with the Matt Dunn-trained Care To Think.

Clark was in the saddle for Care To Thinks’s second career start, a memorable fourth in a Highway Handicap at Randwick in January last year.

“He nearly fell that day,” Clark said.

“He clipped heels early so it ended up a good run. He was very green then and obviously he’s gone on to good things of late.”

Clark was encouraged by the four-year-old’s effort to finish seventh in the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup (1350m) at Doomben last month.

“His last run was good and weight-for-age form is always pretty good form when they go back to a handicap,” he said.

Care To Think drops from 59kg in the Kingsford Smith Cup to 52.5kg.

The downside is drawing barrier 16 but Care To Think will move in four slots if the emergencies are not required.

“This is his grand final so we’ll probably have to roll the dice a little bit and see if we can go forward to some degree and get a spot,” Clark said.

“If we go back it probably takes him out of the race.”