The virtue of patience in racing is frequently preached with yet another splendid example coming in the opening race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Connections of the cleverly named SUBPOENA COLADA (WRITTEN TYCOON x SHE’S DEMANDING) had waited for innumerable preparations before the big chestnut made her successful, though belated debut.
“We’ve had to manage her niggling issues,” trainer Matt Hoysted said.
“But it was certainly worth the wait!”
The now 4yo mare had trialled and jumped out in style but on each occasion, soreness has hitherto intervened. Not on Sunday however, as the $140,000 Magic Millions yearling graduate dominated her rivals in the 1000m Maiden.
“She made my job easy,” revealed jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester on returning to scale.
“Jumped well, showed her great natural speed and gave a good kick. Still plenty of upside in her and she’s very professional.”
It was the first victory of the new season for the Proven team following a couple of frustrating thirds at Randwick Saturday.
As articulated in the recent 2025/26 Review, SUBPOENA COLADA represents the first of 60 unraced members of the Proven stable to be produced in the new season.
That bigger than normal figure comprises a handful of 4yos, 25 juveniles and virtually our entire 3yo crop. So, clearly much to unlock in 2026/27.
As for SUBPOENA COLADA, Matt has no plans beyond monitoring how the rangy speedster comes through her first start, suggesting that she still has plenty of maturing ahead.
The irony of patience per se, is that it doesn’t guarantee a winning racehorse. As George Hanlon, one of the great old Melbourne and Caulfield Cups trainers once surmised, “just because you give them plenty of time, doesn’t mean they’re any good!”
