2023-24 season in review

Aug 1, 2024

Proven Thoroughbreds wasn’t expecting to set any records in the 2023-24 season but we’ve smashed our previous prizemoney record by more than 50 per cent, largely thanks to the world’s richest race on turf.

Last season was the first time our horses crashed through the $10 million barrier. We noted at the time it “says as much about the prizemoney increases as it does about the quality of horse we have been blessed with over the last 12 months.”

Yet here we are a year later with 61 winners and $16,496,610 in prizemoney.

The obvious highlight was The Everest in which we finished 1st and 3rd with THINK ABOUT IT and PRIVATE EYE respectively. With some luck, we are hoping to be represented in the race again on October 19.

But perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the 2023-24 season was our number of metropolitan winners (26) which accounted for 43% of our total winners. Given that only around 10% of the racehorse population are good enough to compete at city level, we take great pride in this statistic.

As always, results like these are not possible without our trainers and their staff, spelling farms, vets, farriers and of course owners.

One significant change to the business from this season is the transition of our Queensland stable from Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted Racing to Matt Hoysted Racing. As reported last month, Steve has decided to step away from training to pursue his bloodstock interests, which has seen Matt become the sole head trainer. We are fully supportive of this change and have absolute confidence in Matt that the high standard of results the stable has maintained for several years will continue into season 2024-25 and beyond.

STAR PERFORMERS

THINK ABOUT IT

Won the world’s richest turf race, The Everest, running a time that was 2.3L faster than Everest standard and has now amassed more than $12million in prizemoney. Nothing went right for him in the autumn but he still finished the season with 2 wins from 6 starts and netting his owners $9.3 million. Watch for him to bounce back in the spring.

PRIVATE EYE

Recorded another placing in The Everest in the spring and returned in the autumn to go down narrowly in the G1 Lightning Stakes to star mare IMPERATRIZ over 1000m. Three starts later he finished a gallant 3rd in the G1 All Aged Stakes over 1400m on an unsuitable heavy track. The versatility we’ve seen from this veteran sprinter this season has been first class and while that’s been on display he’s banked a cool $4.3 million, almost identical to what he did in 2022-23.

THE BLACK CLOUD

Hugely progressive filly building an imposing record. Will be tested in stakes company for the first time later this month in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.

“She hasn’t missed a Quinella finish in 6 starts and has won races on wet, dry and straight tracks,” our times analyst Nic Ashman said.

“She beat BM78 benchmark time by 10L and at her next run smashed the straight benchmark for Open 3YO races by 4L.”

IN FLIGHT

Though not recognised as having the same ability as the three aforementioned gallopers, this filly took out the 2023-24 BOBS premiership courtesy of winning 5 races from her 9 starts and a total of $393,350 in prizemoney. To raise her benchmark rating by 23 points in a single preparation over the winter was exceptional.

ONES TO WATCH

TERMAGANT

Winner of 3 from 4 but should be undefeated with no luck when a narrow 2nd at her only other run.

“Her last 200m at every start has ranked in the top 5 for the meeting and the slowest she’s gone over the final furlong is 4L faster than benchmark,” Ashman said.

“She has huge upside on her current ratings, which already indicate she is Saturday grade.”

KING’S SECRET

The brother to PRIVATE EYE will be likely seen at the races in the coming months after a pair of pleasing winter trials. Joe Pride is looking forward to getting him back in the stables.

“He is the clone of his big brother. He’s only small but has that tenacious attitude and his 2YO trials were very encouraging,” Pride said.

FLYING BANDIT

Lightly-raced 4YO gelding with the Kerry Parker stable. A big scopey, chestnut by TRAPEZE ARTIST, he won two from three in his first campaign and gives every impression he’s going to take the next step this season, particularly over a mile.

ACCREDITED

He was one of our horses to watch last season and everything was going to plan until he struck wet tracks in his three-start campaign recently.

“His peak rating was two preps back over 1200m at Warwick Farm on a good 4,” Ashman said.

“But the fact he ran his 2nd, 3rd and 4th best ratings last prep tells you he’s still progressing and just needs the right conditions. I’m definitely following this horse over summer.”

SIRES ON FIRE

TRAPEZE ARTIST

Won the Australasian second season sires premiership with 46 winners and more than $6.6 million in prizemoney. The feedback we are getting from trainers is they will continue to get better with age so expecting him to be prominent again this season with his oldest crop now 4YOs. Proven is currently offering an exclusive TRAPEZE ARTIST package deal which gets you 1% in three of his 2YOs at a discounted price. More details on that HERE.

ALABAMA EXPRESS

A quite remarkable first season from this stallion. He retired to stud at Yulong without a great deal of fanfare but he’s made an exceptional start with 12 winners from 21 starters (57% winners to runners strike rate) from far less opportunity afforded to other freshman sires. This year Proven acquired a pair of relatively inexpensive ALABAMA EXPRESS colts. Sadly, we will probably have to pay much more for them in 2025.

ALABAMA EXPRESS x OUR RANSOM STAR colt (Joe Pride)
2.5% share = $2,950 inc GST
ALABAMA EXPRESS x WICHITA WOMAN colt (Kerry Parker)
2.5% share = $3,550 inc GST

FARNAN

Really looking forward to seeing his first 2YOs on the track this season. Everything points to him being front and centre on the first season sire premiership. There hasn’t been a Golden Slipper winner that hasn’t gone on to become a good stallion and FARNAN was very well received in the sales ring this year, with some of his yearlings realising the elusive $1million mark.

FARNAN x LECTURE colt (Matt Hoysted)
2.5% share = $6,400 inc GST

RETIREES

It was bittersweet to say goodbye to some favourite Proven gallopers last season, most notably SCALLOPINI. He was an unbelievably tough gelding who won 13 races (6 at stakes level) during a 45-start career that spanned 7 years. We are delighted to report he has found a loving home with equestrian rider Isabella Tyson. Furthermore, Proven Thoroughbreds will sponsor the pair when they compete at this year’s Equimillion event. Meanwhile, GREENSPAN, another Proven alumni from a few seasons back, will also be sponsored by us at Equimillion 2024.


Scallopini with part owners Andrew and Elizabeth McMaster.

The annual Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale marks the beginning of a new career for our horses of the fairer sex. This year we sold a total of six mares (5 stakes performed) to embark on the next chapter of their lives in the breeding barn. BETTER GET SET, STROLL, RED RUBI, CANADIAN DANCER, FETCH and OCEAN TREATY sold for an aggregate $1.635 million and we can’t wait to follow their progeny.

LOOKING AHEAD

Nic Ashman

The current investigation into the sale of Rosehill could prove pivotal to NSW in years to come. And there are many facets to this investigation, which is currently sitting before courts.

Firstly, if the course cannot be sold then what does that mean for the finances of NSW racing? As my beloved wife pointed out “you don’t sell your house to buy clothes”.

But the inquiry has taken a twist, one that could have major implications for Racing NSW CEO Peter V’Landys. Authorities are now probing participants about Racing NSW and the power the entity has in a broader sense.

Trainers Gai Waterhouse and John O’Shea have given evidence at the inquiry.

Committee member and Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst asked Waterhouse whether it is time “for a new CEO within Racing NSW”? To which Waterhouse replied:

“I think there’s time for change. There are things that are very, very wrong here and we have to, well you have to address them. That’s why we’re here today.”

Perhaps the most damning evidence was given by O’Shea, who said that he had been pressured not to speak at the inquiry.

“I don’t know where it came from but I’ve definitely had phone calls from people that I shouldn’t attend,” he said before outlining what he sees as the root of the problem in NSW.

“The money from betting is going to the regulator, not the clubs. The clubs produce the product. The clubs produce the training.

“The regulator makes no contribution to the training of horses in the state and yet the betting comes from the horses that race. So, the clubs are the ones who are being left without funding as a result.”

It is expected V’Landys will appear to give evidence. He’s previously attracted criticism for divisive behaviour in Australian racing. But the argument, and possibly a good one, was his job was to look after NSW not the other states. Sadly, it now appears the state of NSW is divided. A position that often makes a leader’s position untenable.

On a more positive note, owners have never competed for more prizemoney and we are in for another windfall at the Magic Millions 2025 carnival with an incredible $20 million to be run and won over a single weekend.

In addition, the Inglis Xtra Bonus gets underway this season. Connections of winners of a designated Maiden will receive the $100,000 bonus if the horse is an Inglis sale graduate from 2023 and beyond and is paid up for the Inglis Race Series.

The first five maidens scheduled are:

• Friday, August 2 at Coffs Harbour, NSW (Super Mdn Showcase H., 1000m)

• Sunday, August 11 at Sunshine Coast, Qld (3YO Mdn, 1000m)

• Wednesday, August 14 at Randwick-Kensington, NSW (3YO Fillies Mdn H., 1150m)

• Thursday, August 22 at Sale, Vic (3YO Mdn, 1100m)

• Friday, August 30 at Scone, NSW (Mdn H., 1300m)

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