Proven Thoroughbreds will be chasing some unfinished business at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Twelve months ago, PRIVATE EYE was a luckless second in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) behind ALLIGATOR BLOOD. After being held up for the first half of the straight, the Joe Pride-trained galloper flashed home to finish within a length of the winner. It was a tough pill to swallow but served as a reminder of the luck required to win not just at Group 1 level but any race.
And of course this Saturday in the 2023 edition of Queensland’s flagship race, Proven has the favourite in THINK ABOUT IT. Also prepared by the Pride stable, the 4YO gelding plunges 5kg in weight from his Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) win a fortnight ago but will no doubt need the cards to fall his way when the gates open. In big handicaps, anything can happen.
All that said, THINK ABOUT IT has developed a voracious appetite for winning. No other runner in the can boast a record of eight wins from nine starts. While the last horse to win the Stradbroke inside 11 career starts was PRIVATE STEER in 2003.
Proven will in fact be double-handed in the Stradbroke, with popular local veteran SCALLOPINI (pictured) also engaged. The 8yo gelding has been a marvel for the Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted stable, winning 13 races and amassing over $1.1 million in prizemoney. Were he to win on Saturday, it would certainly be his crowning moment in what has been an exceptional career. Like THINK ABOUT IT, he is also afforded significant weight relief from his last start, dropping from 60kg to 55.5kg.
Another runner of interest this week is lightly-raced filly OCEAN ZAR. Purchased for a mere $20,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the daughter of ZOUSTAR resumes after being on the wrong end of a photo finish at her only previous start in January.
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BLACK BOOKER
OCEAN TREATY was enormous in defeat at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Posted three wide without cover for the duration of the 1600m contest, she was still there at the business end, beaten only 1.9 lengths. The winner, Foxy Frida, was in receipt of an 8.5kg weight advantage under the WFA conditions of the race. The Listed Tattersalls Mile, run under handicap conditions back at Eagle Farm on June 24 looks a perfect assignment for OCEAN TREATY.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Dalby Tuesday June 6
Maiden Handicap 1100m
EXTORTIONIST
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Emily Lang (a1.5)
Comment: Resuming. Always been prominent in his trials but yet to fire at the races having been unplaced in two runs at the Sunshine Coast last year. Back to country grade he should get every chance to deliver what he’s promised.
QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap 1100m
UNDERHAND
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Emily Lang (a1.5)
Comment: Showed glimpses of ability in her initial preparation which included a second at the Sunshine Coast, albeit 3.8 lengths from the winner. Drawn awkwardly for this first-up assignment but has shown plenty of speed in her trials.
Doomben Wednesday June 7
QTIS 3YO Fillies Maiden Plate 1200m
OCEAN ZAR
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: Promising filly returning from a break. Finished a close runner-up at her only start to date and has physically come along in leaps and bounds since. Expecting her to run well.
Eagle Farm Saturday June 10
Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap 1400m
THINK ABOUT IT
Joe Pride/Sam Clipperton
Comment: Class horse shooting for nine wins from 10 starts. Extraordinary to think he’s going for back-to-back Group 1 wins but he just keeps raising the bar and is a deserved favourite.
G2 Moreton Cup 1200m
SCALLOPINI
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: An amazingly consistent gelding having his first crack at a Stradbroke as an 8YO. No one would deny his place in the field and if he can get a favourable run in transit, they will know he’s in the race.
Sunshine Coast Sunday June 11
Maiden Handicap 1400m
DEEP CLEAN
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Has developed a habit of missing the start which has proven costly in two runs this preparation. If she can jump away on terms then she is decent each-way chance.
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Real horses, real races, real cash prizes.
It’s an exciting and fun ‘pay to play’ online game (developed in Australia by a fellow horse racing enthusiast) tied to the excitement of real-world horse racing.
Download the app, enter your stable name and draft up to 15 horses for a race meeting (don’t miss the big Brisbane game for the Stradbroke on June 10).
It’s only $19.90 per game. Using your horse racing knowledge and skill, and with a bit of luck, compete against other players on the leaderboard to win cash prizes.
Sign up today! There’s a free game on Wednesdays to practice your strategy. Find out more at https://group1sports.com/
