After wide barriers and inclement weather resulted in mass scratchings last week, Proven Thoroughbreds is armed with seven runners across six venues this week.
The promising FLYING BANDIT (pictured) heads to a rare Hawkesbury-hosted midweek metropolitan meeting for an 1800m BM72 contest following his slashing third first-up in the Kembla Grange Provincial Championships Qualifier.
Other Proven starters coming off a win or placing are MOONLIGHT GAMBLER (Kembla Tuesday) and ICONIC TREASURE (Newcastle Saturday), while debutantes MIND BENDER and ELIVINA head to Gosford and Kembla respectively after being scratched from wide draws last week.
The 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, which concluded on Monday, returned massive figures for vendors with the average up some $100,000 on last year. However, late on day two some opportunities arose (as is often the case) and Proven came away with three impeccably bred yearlings for an aggregate price of $510,000.
All three were well under the $450,000 average which largely came as a result of other buyers already concluding their business earlier in the sale, so much so that the auditorium was three-quarters empty by the time our purchases were secured.
A full wrap of our Inglis Easter acquisitions will be published on Thursday afternoon.
This week’s SECTIONALS REVIEW (authored by form analyst Nic Ashman) gives the verdict on AELIANA’s domination of the boys in the Australian Derby plus an early look at this Saturday’s Sydney Cup.
Information on all of Proven’s 2025 yearlings can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – I AM INVINCIBLE
For all of I AM INVINCIBLE’s dominance over the last 5-6 seasons, he had to wait until last Saturday to produce his first Australian juvenile Group 1 winner which came in the shape of VINROCK in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). That was probably the only piece missing from the puzzle so the team at Yarraman Park are surely over the moon.
BLACK BOOKER – TAKE A BOW
Took on open 3yo company at Eagle Farm last Saturday and was far from disgraced in 6th, 2.1 lengths astern of the winner. She clocked the second fastest last 200m of the race. If she can learn to muster more speed early then she will start stringing wins together.
BET WITH NIC
Our times analyst Nic Ashman will be publishing his popular best bet for Saturday’s racing on Friday.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Hawkesbury Wednesday April 9
BM78 Handicap 1800m
FLYING BANDIT
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Rising sharply in distance second-up but he’s looking for this trip and has drawn soft around a track he has previously won at. Could be vulnerable late but has a touch of class this horse.
Gosford Thursday April 10
Maiden Handicap 1000m
MIND BENDER
Joe Pride/Tyler Schiller
Comment: On debut. Very green in both lead up trials but looks to have some ability. The race tempo should help her settle mid-race and save her best work for the business end of the race.
Gold Coast Friday April 11
QTIS 3YO Maiden Plate 1400m
TINTAURA
Matt Hoysted/Jack Martin
Comment: Coming off a very sound debut when working home into fifth over 1200m at Eagle Farm. Up to 1400m looks ideal as does the drop to provincial grade.
Newcastle Saturday April 12
BM68 Handicap 1200m
ICONIC TREASURE
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Did all bar win last start when nabbed on the post by a horse running in a Group 2 3yo race on Saturday at Randwick. A repeat performance sees him winning this.
Sunshine Coast Sunday April 13
QTIS 3YO BM70 Handicap 1000m
ZATANNA
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: First-up. Only time she has finished out of the money in five career starts was in Listed company behind the likes of LADY SHENANDOAH and CLEAN ENERGY. Been trialling well for her return and strikes a very winnable race first-up.
Kembla Grange Tuesday April 15
Class 1 Handicap 1000m
MOONLIGHT GAMBLER
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Rallied late to break his maiden at Newcastle over 900m. Previously placed twice here so should be thereabouts again as he steps into class 1 company for the first time.
Maiden Handicap 1400m
ELIVINA
Kerry Parker/TBA
Comment: Genuine staying type on debut so look for her to be running on late. Has shown enough at the trials to date to suggest she will run well.
