As many as 11 horses are set to face the starter for Proven Thoroughbreds this week.
The busy week begins with FORTUNEER (pictured) at Ipswich’s Wednesday meeting. The Matt Hoysted-trained mare is a short priced favourite to win first-up since September.
Six of the 10 subsequent Proven runners will take their place on Saturday across three venues – Rosehill, Doomben and the Gold Coast.
Handy mares THE BLACK CLOUD and COSMONOVA head to Rosehill as trainer Joe Pride ponders future stakes starts for the pair.
HEYOKA is another in-form mare, aiming for three consecutive wins when she lines up at the Gold Coast for the Hoysted yard.
Another runner of interest is STOCKMAN, who has his first start for Symon Wilde in the Listed Torney Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night. The veteran stayer switched from the Pride stable to prepare for a Victorian jumps campaign.
Earlier this week we released full details of our seven Inglis Classic purchases. You can read the full wrap HERE. The next sale is the Inglis Premier auction in Melbourne which runs from March 2-4.
Meanwhile we have also rolled out a new weekly segment called SECTIONALS REVIEW, authored by our form analyst Nic Ashman. The article will appear every Tuesday morning during carnival periods, summarising the weekend’s racing.
Information on all of Proven’s 2025 yearlings can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – SNITZEL
Bagged the trifecta in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper in NZ before producing top class filly LADY SHENANDOAH to a first-up win in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
BLACK BOOKER – ROCK THE SUNRISE
Beat all bar OUR BENEFACTOR at Eagle Farm last Saturday, with the best part of four lengths back to third. That was his second run over 1400m this preparation and is giving every indication he will relish a mile next start.
BET WITH NIC
Our times analyst Nic Ashman will be publishing his popular best bet for Saturday’s racing on Friday afternoon.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Ipswich Wednesday February 19
Class 4 Plate 1100m
FORTUNEER
Matt Hoysted/Nikita Beriman
Comment: Resuming. Won her first three starts and was fourth at Listed level earlier in her career. Didn’t quite come up as hoped last campaign but is showing all the right signs this time in. Should be hard to beat on her best form.
Hawkesbury Thursday February 20
Maiden Handicap 1000m
IMA CAPRI
Joe Pride/Tyler Schiller
Comment: On debut. Showed some improvement from his first trial to his second trial this time in but gives away race experience to almost all of his rivals here. Prefer to see for now.
Canterbury Friday February 21
5YO+ BM72 Handicap 1100m
ICONIC TREASURE
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Strikes a suitable race first-up from a break. Though yet to win in two fresh runs, he has been trialling well in good company and is quite adaptable in terms of where he can settle in the run.
Moonee Valley Friday February 21
Listed Torney Cup 2500m
STOCKMAN
Symon Wilde/Damian Lane
Comment: Making his debut for Wilde stable as he embarks on a potential jumps career in the winter. First-up over 2500m is something he’s never done before but he’s a natural stayer and drawn to get an economical run from barrier 1.
Doomben Saturday February 22
BM70 Handicap 1110m
TOWN CRIER
Matt Hoysted/Luke Dempsey
Comment: Resuming. Only beaten a length first-up last preparation over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast. Never won below 1100m so this looks a more attractive starting point and won his most recent trial.
BM78 Handicap 1200m
SHOT OF WHISKEY
Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: No luck at all first-up around Ipswich when finishing on the heels of the placegetters. Drawn to get favours this time and won second-up last preparation.
Class 6 Plate 1350m
NAVAL TRADER
Matt Hoysted/Vlad Duric
Comment: Very consistent type. Though winless in four previous first-up runs, has placed in three of them. Unfortunately the wide draw makes for a difficult assignment here. Will likely have to go back and hope for some speed on up front.
Rosehill Saturday February 22
BM94 Handicap 1100m
THE BLACK CLOUD
Joe Pride/Jay Ford
Comment: Stuck on well fresh to claim runner-up honours. Will have taken good improvement from that however only meets SHEZANALISTER 1kg better at the weights for a 0.9 length defeat.
COSMONOVA
Joe Pride/Reece Jones
Comment: Freshened since winning a BM78 in decisive fashion over 1200m at Randwick last month. Up in grade now but plunges in weight. Chance.
Gold Coast Saturday February 22
BM65 Handicap 1300m
HEYOKA
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Saved for this after being scratched last week due to a wide gate. Shooting for a hat-trick after two dominant performances in the country. Given a nice tick over trial in between runs and only needs to hold her current form to be right in the firing line here.
Sunshine Coast Sunday February 23
QTIS 3YO BM65 Handicap 1200m
TAKE A BOW
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Racing well without winning this preparation. Her starts are proving costly so if she begins on terms she can win, particularly rising to 1200m which appears as though will suit her racing pattern.
