A lean winter run for the Proven Queensland runners has come to a shuddering halt in the last week. Trainer Matt Hoysted, in a splendid example of the virtues of patience, has saddled a trio of 4yos to maiden-breaking victories.
Following wins to LARADO at the Gold Coast and WATERTIGHT at Ipswich, debutante SMUDGED kicked off her career in the perfect way on Saturday, also at the Gold Coast.
Ridden confidently by Jaden Lloyd, SMUDGED jumped straight into the bridle and thereafter enjoyed a lovely run in the box seat before being produced in the straight to score narrowly but decisively in the 1200m Maiden Handicap.
“I was travelling like the winner a long way out,” Lloyd revealed post-race.
“When I pulled her to the outside, she’s still very green, that’s why I took my time going through the gears with her. She’s going to be a very nice filly once she figures it out and gets over more ground.”
The slow maturing daughter of WRITTEN TYCOON was a $200,000 Magic Millions yearling who’d been delayed by minor growing pains so to win her first start, at odds of $10, was just reward for her patient ownership group.
Only the second foal of the 6-time winner and stakes placed mare JUST A BLUR, SMUDGED was reared at the renowned Victoria nursery, THREE BRIDGES. Coincidentally, the same farm produced LARADO who was purchased just 20 minutes after SMUDGED at the same Magic Millions GC Sale in January of 2023.
The Proven winner tally for the new season is now five and with the talent shown by this trio of 4yos, the Queensland stable looks to be in for a healthy spring.
