A busy weekend awaits the Proven Thoroughbreds team with a quartet of stakes runners including a two-pronged attack on the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill.
Joe Pride mares IN FLIGHT (pictured) and THE BLACK CLOUD will be making their Group 1 debuts in the $1million handicap against a quality field of sprinters. One thing in our girls’ favour is the weather forecast, which is predicting up to 70mm of rainfall around Sydney.
All eight of IN FLIGHT’s career wins have come on rain-affected ground while THE BLACK CLOUD has only finished out of the money once in nine starts on a wet track.
Stablemate COSMONOVA, an acceptor for the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m), is not quite as effective in heavy conditions and so will need the track to stay in the soft range if she is to reproduce the same effort that saw her run a gallant 2nd in the Group 3 Wenona Girl (1200m) at Randwick earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Kerry Parker plans to run stakes winning stayer FLYING BANDIT in Friday’s Listed Albury Cup (2000m), provided the track improves from the current soft (7) range.
Kerry has also entered WILD THOUGHTS for two races this weekend however if the forecast rain arrives, he may be kept for another day given he flopped as favourite on a Heavy (9) last start.
Saturday’s Brisbane meeting will see the Matt Hoysted-trained MELTDOWN chase a third consecutive win when he steps up to the 1600m BM70 Handicap at Eagle Farm.
This week Proven is in Adelaide for the annual Magic Millions Yearling Sale which runs from Thursday to Friday. It’s a sale we can’t afford to miss having previously purchased PRIVATE EYE, IN FLIGHT, FLYING BANDIT, INVINCIANO and LYNCEAN ACADEMY!
Information on all of Proven’s latest acquisitions can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – SNITZEL
The evergreen son of REDOUTE’S CHOICE is leading the Australian Sires’ Premiership by earnings, stakes winners and stakes wins. Last Saturday LAZZURA became his 26th Group 1 winner, making him the most prolific active stallion of Group 1 winners in Australia.
BLACK BOOKER – KING’S SECRET
Produced the quickest final 200m of the meeting when resuming in last Saturday’s Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill where he finished 3rd behind FLYING FOR FUN. Will relish getting out to 1200m in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes back at Rosehill on Saturday week.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Albury Friday March 20
L Albury Cup 2000m
FLYING BANDIT
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Had to be restrained when tightened for room on the point of the turn in the Canberra Cup last start. Worked home steadily to the line once clear but didn’t really let go on what was a shifty track. For that reason would need the Albury surface to improve from its soft (7) rating to warrant running.
Rosehill Saturday March 21
G1 Galaxy 1100m
IN FLIGHT
Joe Pride/Jay Ford
Comment: Did enough at weight-for-age when resuming on a good track last start. Reverts to handicap conditions with an attractive weight but the key will be if the forecast rain falls because she is a three-length better horse on wet ground. Wide gate some concern but won’t know until the pattern of the day is revealed.
THE BLACK CLOUD
Joe Pride/Andrew Adkins
Comment: Well placed on the minimum weight after finishing within 4.7 lengths of GENEROSITY at weight-for-age. Meets that winner 4kg better, has dynamite wet track form and barrier one will help her see out a strong 1100m.
G3 Birthday Card Stakes 1200m
COSMONOVA
Joe Pride/Andrew Adkins
Comment: Coming off a career best run when 2nd to GANGSTA GRANNY in Group 3 company at Randwick. Barrier 18 of 18 on a wet track sets a daunting task for her so could be saved for another day.
Midway BM72 Handicap 1500m
WILD THOUGHTS
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Uncharacteristically poor as a well beaten favourite last time out. Was going from a good (4) onto a heavy (9) there so inclined to give another chance if the track is in the soft range.
Eagle Farm Saturday March 21
BM70 Handicap 1600m
MELTDOWN
Matt Hoysted/Jag Guthmann-Chester
Comment: Shooting for the hat-trick. Awkward alley but is in form and Guthmann-Chester sticks. Looks ready for a mile now and the big track should suit.
Kembla Saturday March 21
Midway C1 Handicap 1000m
MOVER AND SHAKER
Kerry Parker/TBA
Comment: Disappointed first-up at the Sapphire Coast when finishing 4th of 5 as an odds-on favourite. Fitter but needs to improve.
