Proven Thoroughbreds is on close weather watch for PRIVATE EYE’s slated return to racing in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
PRIVATE EYE (pictured) is favoured by bookmakers to win the $300,000 set weights and penalties event but with the track still rated a heavy (9) on Wednesday, there is some doubt about whether the $12 million earner will take his place on Saturday or be saved for the Group 3 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a week later.
There is some rain predicted on Friday and Saturday so how much more precipitation Randwick receives will be crucial in determining which trainer Joe Pride uses to kick off PRIVATE EYE’s spring preparation.
Pride and Proven have a definite starter at Randwick in ELLE HUDSON, a last start third placegetter over 2200m at Warwick Farm. The 5yo son of TARZINO contests the BM78 2400m event with Alysha Collett aboard.
Elsewhere, Kerry Parker’s promising 4yo WILD THOUGHTS will look to take the notoriously difficult leap from maiden to class 1 grade when he steps out onto his home track at Kembla on Thursday, while the Pride-trained TYRANNICAL will make his long awaited debut at either Kembla on the same day or Friday at Canberra.
In other news, FLYING BANDIT is due to trial at Warwick Farm or Kembla on Friday as Parker ramps up a spring campaign that will be aimed at gaining a start in the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick in early October.
Nic Ashman’s SECTIONALS REVIEW and SATURDAY TIP articles are currently in hiatus until Group 1 racing resumes later this month.
Information on all of Proven’s 2025 yearlings can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – ALL TOO HARD
For the fourth consecutive Saturday, ALL TOO HARD sired a metropolitan winner, courtesy of a two-state treble. Interestingly his winners over the last month have ranged in distance from 850m to 2400m. But his biggest asset is the durability he throws into this stock.
BLACK BOOKER – OCEAN ZAR
Ran home the equal fastest last 600m of the race when finishing fourth at Eagle Farm last Saturday. She was first-up on that occasion and always improves with racing. Can win her next start around 1400m if she draws a barrier.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Doomben Wednesday August 6
BM65 Handicap 1110m
BOARD MEMBER
Matt Hoysted/Corey Sutherland (a3)
Comment: Looks to have struck a winnable race after two runs back from a spell, the latest of which she was only run down late to finish second in a Saturday Class 3 over this track and distance. Well placed with the claim and will be making her own luck on the speed.
Kembla Grange Thursday August 7
Class 1 Handicap 1500m
WILD THOUGHTS
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Promising galloper who disposed of his maiden in sharp time over this track and distance. Will likely have to go back again from a wide gate and is unproven on heavy ground but is bred to handle it.
Ipswich Friday August 8
BM62 Handicap 1350m
MELTDOWN
Matt Hoysted/Damien Thornton
Comment: Coming off a minor setback after breaking his maiden at the Sunshine Coast over 1400m last month. May need this run before stepping back up in distance, particularly from a wide gate around Ipswich.
BM62 Handicap 1200m
MOONFLEET
Matt Hoysted/Jake Bayliss
Comment: Resuming. Ran third in similar company over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast last campaign. Her optimum trip is over a touch further so may need this hit out.
Canberra Friday August 8
Maiden Plate 1280m
TYRANNICAL
Joe Pride/Alysha Collett
Comment: Slow maturing NZ-bred 4yo gelding making his long awaited debut. Has improved with every trial under his belt and looks ready for raceday pressure however gives away race experience to most of his opposition here.
Randwick Saturday August 9
G2 Missile Stakes 1200m
PRIVATE EYE
Joe Pride/Nash Rawiller
Comment: Clearly the class runner of the race but first-up on a heavy track is far from ideal. A couple of others may be better suited at 1200m but he may be too good anyway under the set weights and penalties conditions.
BM78 Handicap 2400m
ELLE HUDSON
Joe Pride/Alysha Collett
Comment: Looks ready for 2400m now and won’t have any problems getting through a rain affected track. Gets blinkers on and looks the best of the lightweight chances in the race.
Eagle Farm Saturday August 9
BM78 Handicap 1000m
SHOT OF WHISKEY
Matt Hoysted/Ben Thompson
Comment: Resuming. Has won twice when first-up and gets the services of an in-form jockey. Had no luck fresh last preparation and Eagle Farm was the scene of his last victory.
Gold Coast Poly Saturday August 9
BM55 Handicap 1100m
ZATANNA
Matt Hoysted/Jasper Franklin (a1.5kg)
Comment: Overdid it up front but dropped out sharply last start. Needs to bounce back and gets onto the poly track for the first time since winning there three starts ago.
Hawkesbury Tuesday August 12
4YO&UP Maiden Plate 1300m
ALDEZOR
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Very green and pulled for the first half of the race over this trip at Kembla last month. However, to his credit, he kept coming in the straight to finish within 3.2 lengths of the winner. Better for that experience and looks a likely improver third-up.
