The first Group 1 of the season will be run this Saturday at Randwick as one of our promising mares returns to headquarters.
The Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) has attracted a field of 12 runners, 8 of them already Group 1 winners.
One of the support races on the program – the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) will see THE BLACK CLOUD (pictured) resume from a freshen-up and has drawn ideally in gate 1 with Jay Ford continuing his association with the daughter of SHAMUS AWARD. She trialled well last week and brings residual fitness to her toughest test to date.
Meanwhile, the Kerry Parker-trained FLYING BANDIT went around in a trial at Nowra earlier this week as he prepares to resume over 1400m at his home track of Kembla on Saturday week. The winner of 2 from 3 is one of our horses to watch this spring.
PRIVATE EYE spun the wheels on Monday at the trials in what was his first appearance of the season. The veteran gelding wasn’t asked to do much under Jay Ford. Trainer Joe Pride will look for another trial next month before deciding on a first-up target.
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SIRE ON FIRE – ALABAMA EXPRESS
Brilliant first season and already has 3 winners from 10 runners this season, including the very promising ALABAMA LASS who took care of a stakes class field in NZ on Wednesday.
NO BLACK BOOKER THIS WEEK
BET WITH NIC
Our resident times analyst Nic Ashman has been on absolute fire of late. His tip in here each week has been massively profitable with 10 winners from 14 tips. Last week he gave us GENTLEMAN ROY, who was as much as $11 earlier in the week before tightening up into $5.
“Got nothing for you this early after a quick look through my notes and data on the Randwick meeting but the fact James McDonald has ditched the very progressive OUR KOBISON in the Show County tells me the dual acceptor JOLIESTAR will go that way and be very hard to beat.”
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Sunshine Coast Wednesday August 21
Maiden Plate 1000m
MELTDOWN
Matt Hoysted/Ryan Maloney
Comment: Makes debut off the back of an impressive trial win. The best of the raced brigade according to ratings is AMBERINGER and she has only posted fair data.
Canberra Friday August 23
Maiden Plate 1080m
MOONLIGHT GAMBLER
Joe Pride/Nick Heywood
Comment: Solid on debut when pressured in front but still recorded decent rating. We made him our blackbooker and this looks a terrific progression.
BOTTLER
Joe Pride/Jeff Penza
Comment: Resumes and was supposed to run at Bathurst on Monday before meeting abandoned. Hit the line hard when resuming last time clocking 4th best last 200m of the meeting
Randwick Saturday August 24
G3 Toy Show Quality 1100m
THE BLACK CLOUD
Joe Pride/Jay Ford
Comment: Resumes off a 2-month break and that will give her a slight edge over the likes of LADY LAGUNA but under this weight scale she isn’t particularly well placed. That said, we feel she is up to this grade and her rating will likely end up higher than where it is now. Last time she was at Randwick she smashed the class benchmark by 6L and maps to be in the firing line again.
Goulburn Sunday August 25
BM66 Handicap 1200m
ICONIC TREASURE
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Resumed in a slowly run race where his sectionals were flat suggesting he wants further. Gets that here and with a bit of tempo on should be powering to the line.
