As the curtain closes on another Sydney autumn carnival, racing in the regions is starting to ramp up.
The famous three-day Warrnambool carnival gets underway next month and Proven Thoroughbreds will be represented by the ageless STOCKMAN, who has a final preparatory hit-out at Flemington this Saturday. At last year’s carnival, STOCKMAN (pictured) finished a thrilling second in his first season over the jumps.
In NSW this weekend, Randwick will host one final meeting before the Saturday racing caravan hits the road to Hawkesbury, Gosford and Scone.
FLYING BANDIT, scratched as an emergency from last Saturday’s Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m), is our sole runner at Randwick on ANZAC Day while 3yo filly OBSIDIAN DREAM heads to Gosford on the same day in search of a maiden-breaking victory.
Our Queensland team, which celebrated a Saturday triumph with OCEAN ZAR at Eagle Farm last weekend, will be double handed at Doomben’s midweek fixture with BREAK FREE and HEYOKA due to face the starter.
Information on all of Proven’s latest acquisitions can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – SNITZEL
What more can you say about this breed shaping stallion? He absolutely dominated the final day of the Randwick carnival with a Group 1 quinella (FIREBALL & CAMPIONE D’ITALIA), 2nd in the All Aged Stakes (LAZZURA) and a pair of 3yo Group 3 winners (MATIAS & SNITZEL DANCER).
BLACK BOOKER – KING’S SECRET
Split some hardened sprinters in MAZU and PRIVATE EYE in the Hall Mark Stakes last Saturday. That was only his 14th career start and he was terribly treated at the weights. He’s gone for a spell now and is shaping up as a serious contender in the spring.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Doomben Wednesday April 22
BM68 Handicap 1200m
HEYOKA
Matt Hoysted/Jag Guthmann-Chester
Comment: Resuming. Consistent type whose best form is typically over a touch further but she will be prominent from a good draw.
BREAK FREE
Matt Hoysted/Daniel Moor
Comment: Back from a let-up after finishing a couple of lengths off the winner in Saturday grade at Eagle Farm. Should have won the start prior over this track and distance. Drawn wide so will likely get back.
Randwick Saturday April 25
BM94 Handicap 1800m
FLYING BANDIT
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Missed a run in the JRA Plate last Saturday so reverts to 1800m more than a month between runs. Not an ideal set-up but this is the easiest opposition he has faced in some time and the wide draw probably aids him if anything, particularly if they are skirting wide.
Flemington Saturday April 25
BM84 Handicap 2500m
STOCKMAN
Symon Wilde/Dakotah Keane (a3)
Comment: Found one better first-up over 3200m in an open hurdle at Hamilton. Back on the flat to prepare for the Warrnambool Carnival. Hard to see him winning on a firm Flemington surface.
Gosford Saturday April 25
3YO Maiden Plate 1200m
OBSIDIAN DREAM
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Got mobile late in a helter-skelter 1100m race here on April 9. Better for that experience and the extra 100m helps. Can only improve.
Goulburn Monday April 27
Maiden Handicap 1500m
SILVER D’OR
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Never travelled on debut and finished a distant last. He’s a staying bred kiwi so should appreciate stepping up from 1250m to 1500m.
