Proven Thoroughbreds’ runners this week will be confined to the sunshine state with a quartet of acceptors including the promising OCEAN ZAR.
OCEAN ZAR (pictured) cost a mere $20,000 as a yearling but the daughter of ZOUSTAR has already defied her lowly price tag with $35,600 collected from a win and two seconds from just four starts.
She lines up as a favourite in the second event at Eagle Farm’s Ekka Day meeting on Wednesday where victory would see her bank another $21,000 and hopefully propel her to bigger and better things.
Rider Ben Thompson will have the job of negotiating barrier six in a small field of seven with the rail out nine metres.
Meanwhile, established performer RED RUBI heads to Doomben on Saturday in pursuit of her 7th career win at start number 20. Like OCEAN ZAR, she also has a potentially tricky draw in 9 of 14.
We are now less than 8 weeks out from The Everest as we count down to THINK ABOUT IT’s shot at $20 million at Randwick on October 14. We are hoping he can be joined by last year’s runner-up PRIVATE EYE, who is scheduled to trial before the end of month.
The first signs of spring racing are certainly evident this Saturday with the running of the first Group 1 of the season – the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick where we will be cheering on Kerry Parker’s star THINK IT OVER who is on the comeback trail from a tendon injury.
The recently completed 2022-23 season will live long in our memory with multiple Group 1 wins, a Melbourne Cup runner and more than $10 million in prizemoney the highlights. You can read a full review of Proven’s 2022-23 season HERE.
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BLACK BOOKER
We don’t often include last start winners in our black booker segment but think the penny might have finally dropped for AFFECTIONATE who shed her maiden with a strong performance over a mile at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday. Having begun her run at the 800m mark, the 4YO mare circled the field and still had enough in the locker to win by 1.3 lengths on the line, with another 3.3 lengths back to the third placegetter. The manner of the win suggested that 1800m, maybe even 2000m, would be well within her reach.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Eagle Farm Wednesday Aug 16
Class 3 Handicap 1600m
OCEAN ZAR
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Ben Thompson
Comment: Impressive winner here two back and then had too much work to do at the Sunshine Coast but ran home resolutely. Gives every indication she will appreciate the mile but will need some luck in what is shaping as a tactical affair, typical of small fields.
Doomben Saturday August 19
BM85 Handicap 1110m
RED RUBI
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: Wasn’t afforded much room in the straight last time but got up to run third. Has won two of her last three starts at Doomben.
Sunshine Coast Sunday August 20
Maiden Plate 1400m
EVERCLEAR
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: Was doing his best work late over 1200m first-up at Doomben. Should be suited up to 1400m on a bigger track.
