A quartet of Proven Thoroughbreds runners will be out to provide their owners with some Christmas cheer over the next seven days.
Christmas is a unique celebration for racing participants as it is the only public holiday of the year when there is no racing! The relentless nature of the industry means that every other public holiday (including Boxing Day) is awash with racing fixtures for the public to enjoy.
It is already a busy time of year for Proven as we prepare for another hectic sales season, which commences with the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast next month.
All four of our runners this week will be attempting to shed their maiden status. The Kerry Parker-trained ROGUE ARTIST lines up at Gosford on Thursday, followed by CHILLI JAM at Wyong on Saturday, and finally GOSSIP COLUMN and OCEAN ZAR at the Sunshine Coast on Monday. The latter was originally scheduled to race at the Sunshine Coast’s Friday night meeting but barrier 20 put paid to those plans.
The barrier gods were equally ruthless with CONTEMPTUOUS who came up with gate 18 for Saturday’s Listed Falvelon Stakes at Doomben. Co-trainers Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted have elected to scratch the entire and save him for a fresh tilt on Magic Millions day (January 14).
With 10 days left in 2022, Proven is within $60,000 of reaching the $8 million prizemoney milestone. Should it not happen this week, we will have a strong representation on New Year’s Eve including dual-stakes winning filly STROLL in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.
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BLACK BOOKER
TERANGA went within a whisker of winning first-up at Doomben last week. Having her first run in six months, she found herself in a fast run 1350m race and her class nearly carried her to victory. She will take a great deal of fitness improvement from that outing and hopefully she can add to her CV which already includes a stakes placing from six career starts.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Gosford Thursday Dec 22
Provincial Maiden Handicap 1600m:
ROGUE ARTIST
Kerry Parker/Lee Magorrian
Comment: Ran home respectably on debut over 1500m, suggesting he was looking for every bit of 1600m which he gets here. However has drawn very wide around a tight track so will likely have to go back again.
Wyong Saturday Dec 24
Maiden Handicap 1100m:
CHILLI JAM
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Might have been ridden a touch handy last time and was caught wide over the 1200m at Kembla. Back to 1100m here and capable of bouncing back hard going off her first-up run at Canterbury.
Sunshine Coast Monday Dec 26
Maiden Handicap 1200m:
GOSSIP COLUMN
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Consistent mare resuming from a spell. Finished runner-up twice in three starts last preparation and looks to have come back well based on her trials. Doubt she will be a maiden for much longer, whether that is here or not will depend on how easily she can find the front.
OCEAN ZAR
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Debutante by leading sire ZOUSTAR coming off an encouraging trial win last week. Gives the impression six furlongs on a big track will suit.
