This week for Proven Thoroughbreds, tough gelding SHOT OF WHISKEY gets his shot at an elusive Saturday metropolitan victory while a pair of 3yo fillies attempt to shed maiden status, pending the weather.
Brisbane has been hammered by rainfall in recent days, leaving most of South East Queensland’s racetracks in the heavy range. One horse that won’t mind the conditions is the Matt Hoysted-trained SHOT OF WHISKEY (pictured). The son of the recently departed SPIRIT OF BOOM, has a golden opportunity to add a Saturday city win to his CV when he contests the 1200m Class 6 Handicap on Doomben Cup Day.
After the claim of Fiona Sandkuhl, who rode TOWN CRIER to success last Wednesday for the Proven-Hoysted combination, SHOT OF WHISKEY will carry a maximum of 52kg with the option of getting down to 50.5kg if Sandkuhl is able to get down to that weight. The lightest weight SHOT OF WHISKEY has previously carried in his racing life is 55kg. Furthermore, barrier 5 in the field of 16 will allow him to take up his preferred on-pace position in the run. Having run 2nd at Doomben on three occasions for an aggregate beaten margin of less than two lengths, no one would deny the 5yo victory this Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Joe Pride-trained OBSIDIAN DREAM looks poised to run well at Hawkesbury on Thursday as she attempts to break her maiden having displayed improvement in each of her three runs this preparation.
Similarly, LOVE REBEL, who races in hybrid silks shared between Proven and Francis Cook, is knocking on the door of a maiden win, though will likely need conditions to improve ahead of her mooted starts at the Gold Coast Friday and the Sunshine Coast Sunday.
Last Sunday Proven hosted a combined Joe Pride/Kerry Parker Open Morning at Inglis Riverside where 10 yearlings were paraded. We would like to thank the efforts of everyone involved as well as all the attendees who made the most of getting to speak with our trainers and see some of our latest equine prospects up close and personal!
Nic Ashman’s latest SECTIONALS REVIEW article takes an in depth look of TOWN CRIER’s first-up win last week, plus the virtues of leading as a racing pattern.
Information on all of Proven’s latest acquisitions can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
For news and exclusive offers you can SUBSCRIBE to our mailing list.
SIRE ON FIRE – WILD RULER
A pair of 2yo winners, including roughie QUEEN REGENT in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Scone on Saturday, has propelled this first season sire to 2nd on the premiership standings, two wins astern of HOME AFFAIRS. With STAY INSIDE also prominent in 3rd, the final couple of months of the season is set to provide a thrilling three-way tussle for champion first season sire honours.
BLACK BOOKER – BREAK FREE
As our form analyst Nic Ashman stated in his Sectionals Review article, she clocked the 3rd fastest last 200m of the meeting last Wednesday at Ipswich. Both runs this preparation have been full of merit and if she gets to a bigger track next start then she will take some holding out.
RUNNERS THIS WEEK
Warwick Farm Wednesday May 20
BM72 Handicap 1400m
ELLE HUDSON
Joe Pride/Sam Clipperton
Comment: Stayer resuming and has only the one 3rd from five fresh runs in his career. Look for him to be running on late, in preparation for longer distances over the winter.
Hawkesbury Thursday May 21
Maiden Plate 1400m
OBSIDIAN DREAM
Joe Pride/Sam Clipperton
Comment: Lightly raced filly that has shown incremental improvement in three runs this preparation as the distances have increased. Gets another 100m here which looks suitable but has drawn the outside in a small field so tactics will be crucial.
Gold Coast Friday May 22
BM68 Handicap 1200m
CHAMPAGNE LANE
Matt Hoysted/Jason Collett
Comment: Drawn very wide and given she didn’t handle Heavy 8 conditions last start, she is doubtful of starting if the track remains in the heavy range.
Maiden Handicap 1100m/QTIS 3yo Maiden Plate 1200m
LOVE REBEL
Matt Hoysted/Daniel Moor
Comment: Showed ability in two starts last preparation, including a narrow defeat over 1100m at the Sunshine Coast on debut. Comes back a more mature filly now. Wet track a significant query given she’s never raced on anything worse than a good 4.
Doomben Saturday May 23
Class 6 Handicap 1200m
SHOT OF WHISKEY
Matt Hoysted/Fiona Sandkuhl (a3)
Comment: Hasn’t had much go his way in two runs back this campaign. Last prep he managed to string together a quartet of runner-up finishes, two over this track and trip. Handles the wet and can figure if he gets an economical run on speed, particularly on a light weight (has never carried less than 55kg in 25 career starts).
Sunshine Coast Sunday May 24
BM58 Handicap 1200m
SEISMIC BOOM
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Coming off a horror watch at Toowoomba where she was caught very wide in a messy race before finishing 4th as favourite. Won an Eagle Farm 3yo maiden at her only previous start so has the potential to hit back in a big way here.
Maiden Handicap 1200m
LOVE REBEL
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Showed ability in two starts last preparation, including a narrow defeat over 1100m here on debut. Comes back a more mature filly now. Goes to 1200m first-up so expecting her to get back in the field and be running on.
QTIS 2YO Maiden Handicap 1000m
SUMMER VIBE
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Was all set to debut here earlier this month but was scratched at the gates after a minor mishap (lacerated nose). Had trialled well prior to that and strikes an identical race for ‘take two’.
