A trio of our autumn carnival aspirants return to action this week while a pair of 3yos are also set to make their long awaited debuts.
Hawkesbury’s Thursday meeting plays host to the first of the 2026 Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifiers and Proven will be represented by the Kerry Parker-trained WILD THOUGHTS (pictured). Although the son of SO YOU THINK is still eligible for easier races, the $150,000 purse and chance to qualify for the $1million Final on April 11 is too good an opportunity to ignore. As of Wednesday afternoon, bookmakers had WILD THOUGHTS quoted around the $13 mark.
WILD THOUGHTS has already been the beneficiary of another big prizemoney initiative by virtue of his Inglis Xtra Race Series Maiden win back in July which netted him a cool $126,625 – more than three times his price as a yearling!
Also running at Hawkesbury’s feature meeting will be the Joe Pride debutante IN CIRCLES. The TORONADO filly was seen winning a trial at Warwick Farm earlier this month but will need to overcome the outside barrier of eight, as well as the pressure cooker of raceday.
Two days later at Rosehill, FLYING BANDIT and COSMONOVA kick off their autumn campaigns. FLYING BANDIT, winner of last year’s Listed Wagga Cup (2000m), is building towards some feature staying events whilst COSMONOVA resumes in a BM94 contest in preparation for some stakes targets later in the carnival. Given COSMONOVA is a ZOUSTAR half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner MAGIC TIME, any sort of black type against her name would significantly boost her broodmare value.
Up in Queensland, Proven and the Matt Hoysted stable will have runners at the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Warwick. First starter SENSE OF DUTY, a FLYING ARTIE gelding raced in partnership with prominent industry players China Horse Club, will be one of three runners at the Gold Coast’s Saturday meeting, joining stablemates ROCK THE SUNRISE and EMPHATIQUE.
Last week the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale concluded. For a comprehensive summary of our seven purchases CLICK HERE.
Information on all of Proven’s latest acquisitions can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – HELLBENT
Yarraman Park’s son of I AM INVINCIBLE gets the nod for sire on fire this week. A Group 2 winner (SAVVY HALLIE), Group 1 placegetter (BENEDETTA) & Group 2 placegetter (HAWEA) were the highlights of a weekend that featured a quintet of winners. Those results came hot on the heels of one of his yearlings realising $400,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale – the 4th highest price of the 600 lots sold.
BLACK BOOKER – HEAD OF THE RIVER
More a hard luck story than a black booker but was appropriately summarised by our form analyst Nic Ashman in his Sectionals Review article: “Spent half the straight looking for a run while LADIES OCEAN RUN shot clear. She took ground off the winner over the last 100m but the bird had flown.” She’ll be winning her maiden soon.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Hawkesbury Thursday February 19
Maiden Handicap 1000m
IN CIRCLES
Joe Pride/Jay Ford
Comment: First starter coming off a trial win at Warwick Farm on February 3. Possess plenty of natural ability but lack of race experience may prove telling here. Particularly from the outside barrier.
Provincial-Midway Championship Qualifier 1400m
WILD THOUGHTS
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Resuming. Strung a pair of wins together last preparation and appears to have come back bigger and stronger this time in but will need to be as this is clearly the toughest race he’s ever contested. A top 3 finish will qualify him for the Final at Randwick during The Championships.
Rosehill Saturday February 21
Open Handicap 1400m
FLYING BANDIT
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: First-up from the outside gate expect him to settle towards the tail of the field and be doing his best work late. Probably can’t win but could sneak a place as he gets fitter for longer distances.
BM94 Handicap 1100m
COSMONOVA
Joe Pride/Jay Ford
Comment: Trialled strongly on Monday in preparation for this first-up assignment. Generally takes a run or two to hit her top but has the inside gate and the form around her last preparation reads very well.
Gold Coast Saturday February 21
BM68 Handicap 1400m
ROCK THE SUNRISE
Matt Hoysted/Ryan Wiggins
Comment: Hasn’t been a factor in three previous first-up runs so will likely need this run to bring him on. That said has never resumed over 1400m before and both career wins have come at that distance so worth an each-way ticket.
3YO F Maiden Handicap 1200m
EMPHATIQUE
Matt Hoysted/Ryan Wiggins
Comment: Held up hopelessly for most of the Eagle Farm straight when beaten 3.5 lengths last start. Gets similar conditions here and only needs an ounce of luck to be in the finish.
3YO C&G Maiden Handicap 1200m
SENSE OF DUTY
Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: 3yo gelding on debut. Has taken a while to learn the ropes and mature but is ready for competition now. Best form may come over a touch further.
Wyong Saturday February 21
Class 1 & Maiden Plate 2100m/4YO&UP Maiden Plate 1600m
ALDEZOR
Kerry Parker/TBA
Comment: Though still a maiden from eight starts, his last run when third at Kembla was clearly his best and is giving every indication he’s looking for a trip now. If he does stay, then that will open a few doors for him. Ideally want him to be up near the speed in this small field.
Sunshine Coast Sunday February 22
RTGS 0-60 Handicap 1200m
SMUDGED
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: A smart debut win was followed by a pair of thirds last preparation and resumes here as a mature mare now. If she is going to ultimately measure up, then she will take some beating in this.
Warwick Monday February 23
BM65 Handicap 1350m/BM60 Handicap 1600m
MELTDOWN
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Recorded an overdue win over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast last start. The tight turns of Warwick represent a different challenge but needs to keep building his confidence and hopefully another win will do that here.
