There are more prestigious Boxing Day racing locations than humble Warwick, but the three strong Proven team made the long, hot drive from Eagle Farm worthwhile with a pair of decisive winners.
Have truck will travel is the Hoysted approach to horse placement, so it was very satisfying to see CHATTERBOX breaking her maiden at start three and HEYOKA (pictured) finding redemption in the BM62 event albeit in country company.
It was an important day for both mares and they duly saluted as well identified favourites with only SKYPORT LANE blotting the colours’ copybook finishing down the course in the QTIS 3yo Maiden.
“I thought stable apprentice Fiona Sandkuhl executed a perfect ride on CHATTERBOX”, trainer Matt Hoysted concluded.
“We needed to utilize her high cruising speed, slowly building through her gears from in front, giving her the chance to be really strong through the line.
“She was holding her rivals at the post so if she can run out longer trips, it’s going to open up a lot more doors for her.”
HEYOKA, by contrast was looking to rediscover her mojo after losing form in her previous preparation, failing to progress from her debut victory five starts ago, until yesterday. After working herself into quite a state when the race was delayed, she got back to midfield, slightly over-racing.
Heavyweight apprentice rider Jasper Franklin then confidently produced the 4yo relatively early, switching 4 and 5 deep coming to the turn.
“She’s a horse that appreciates getting into open spaces so taking bad luck out of the equation, I was able to build her revs and work through the line really well”, said Franklin post-race.
The victories saw the Proven tally for 2024 hit 60 with prizemoney eclipsing $4.7m. Another half a dozen runners will represent our team over the weekend from the Hoysted, Pride and Parker stables, the highlight being BREAK FREE’S first tangle with stakes company in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm.