Provincial-Midway Championships Final aspirant WILD THOUGHTS is poised for a chance at redemption following a luckless run in the first of the qualifying heats at Hawkesbury last Thursday.
The Kerry Parker-trained galloper found nothing but rump steak in the home straight, restricting him to an 8th placed finish in the $150,000 contest. Fortunately, there is another qualifying heat on his home track scheduled for Saturday March 21. A top two finish there would earn him a start in the $1million Final at Randwick three weeks later.
But before then, the 4yo gelding will tackle the 1400m BM68 Handicap, also at Kembla, this coming Tuesday. That race will provide an ideal two and a half week gap into the all-important qualifier.
Another runner of interest for the Parker stable this week is 4yo mare BANG ON TIME. The daughter of ALMANZOR is due to make her debut at the same Kembla meeting following a lengthy injury lay-off. All of her trials to date suggest she has well above average ability so we are looking forward to see how she acquits herself to raceday. BANG ON TIME is in fact one of five Proven runners this week aiming to register their first career win.
Elsewhere, the Matt Hoysted-trained BREAK FREE looks well placed to break through in metropolitan company at Eagle Farm on Saturday, following an eye-catching third in similar company at Doomben three weeks ago.
Earlier this month the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale concluded. For a comprehensive summary of our seven purchases CLICK HERE.
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SIRE ON FIRE – STREET BOSS
There’s a bit of WRITTEN TYCOON about this stallion. He just seems to be getting better with age. In his first eight seasons of runners in Australasia, he produced 12 stakes winners. However in the subsequent six seasons he has thrown 37 stakes winners! And this season is trending like it will be his best with last Saturday’s Futurity Stakes victor PERICLES joining the likes of TENTYRIS, TEMPTED, CLOSER TO FREE, GREEN SPACES, MOTORSPORTS and FLEET STREET as black type winners since August 1.
BLACK BOOKER – COSMONOVA
Our form analyst Nic Ashman had this to say about COSMONOVA’s return to action at Rosehill last Saturday: “She’s rarely far away first-up and that was the case again when she was 4th to KERGUELEN over 1100m in one of the best rating races of the day. Her time of 1.03:2 was still more than 1L inside standard time. She also recorded the 2nd fastest last 800 at the meeting. This was the best fresh rating of her career and potentially indicative of a horse that will go to a new level this campaign.”
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Sunshine Coast Friday February 27
QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap 1000m
HEAD OF THE RIVER
Matt Hoysted/Daniel Moor
Comment: Luckless runner-up at Toowoomba last start and will appreciate getting back to the open spaces of Caloundra. Drawn the outside but this isn’t a big field and that should allow for an uninterrupted run.
Eagle Farm Saturday February 28
BM78 Handicap 1200m
BREAK FREE
Matt Hoysted/Daniel Moor
Comment: Resumed with a strong win at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m and then did a super job to grab third in restricted room over 1200m at Doomben last start. Narrowly beaten over this track and distance last preparation but was almost a month between runs rising from 1000m on that occasion. Three week gap third-up shapes as a better set up here.
Gold Coast Saturday February 28
QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap 1400m
EMPHATIQUE
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: On the seven-day back-up after running on into 3rd over 1200m here. Looking for 1400m now. Ready to win.
Sapphire Coast Sunday March 1
Maiden Showcase Handicap 1000m
MOVER AND SHAKER
Kerry Parker/Chad Lever
Comment: Five start maiden resuming. Best run to date came here when 3rd last preparation. Finished 2nd in a recent 800m trial at Kembla. With natural improvement she can improve as a 4yo mare.
Kembla Grange Tuesday March 3
Maiden Plate 1000m
ALABAMA SHOWDOWN
Joe/TBA
Comment: Coming off a creditable debut here when 4th over 1000m. Both the 2nd and 3rd placed runners have since won so form has stacked up nicely. With that experience under his belt, he can find the improvement to win this.
Conditional BM68 Handicap 1400m
WILD THOUGHTS
Kerry Parker/Chad Lever
Comment: Should have finished much closer than the 4.8 length margin when resuming in the Hawkesbury Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m). Back sharply in grade on his home track, he should take some beating in this.
Super Maiden Plate 1200m
BANG ON TIME
Kerry Parker/TBA
Comment: Promising filly making her long awaited debut after a 12-month injury. Won a trial impressively prior to her set back and has seemingly picked up where she left off, winning her only lead-up trial for this.
