The final weekend of the 2024-25 racing season will be a busy one for Proven Thoroughbreds, with up to 10 starters including a pair of Brisbane-based gallopers looking to plunder some of Sydney’s lucrative prizemoney.
Trainer Matt Hoysted is no stranger to interstate raids and on Saturday he will have both BREAK FREE (pictured) and TERMAGANT engaged at Randwick, the former of which will be eligible for a $105,000 prizemoney cheque courtesy of the BOBS bonus – a scheme Proven Thoroughbreds owners have benefited from greatly in recent years. Indeed, IN FLIGHT and KING’S SECRET have won the BOBS Horse of the Year titles in the last two seasons.
Joining Hoysted’s two pronged attack at Randwick will be Joe Pride runners THE BLACK CLOUD and LITTLE COINTREAU, while at Kembla Grange, promising 3YO WILD THOUGHTS will be chasing an even bigger payday in the Inglis Xtra Race Series Provincial Maiden (1500m) with the winner set to receive the best part of $130,000! That would certainly be some result for connections of WILD THOUGHTS, a mere $45,000 yearling.
Last weekend was a case of close but no cigar, as ACCREDITED went down by the barest of margins in the Listed Winter Challenge at Rosehill before LITTLE COINTREAU flashed home into third after being held up for a run. To rub salt into the wounds, TOWN CRIER looked home in the lucky last at Eagle Farm before being ambushed late and settling for 4th, just 0.6 lengths from the winner.
ELLE HUDSON is our sole midweek representative at Canterbury and he represents a great chance to elevate Proven’s seasonal winners’ tally to 60 and bring us to within one win of our 61-win record set last season.
Nic Ashman’s SECTIONALS REVIEW and SATURDAY TIP articles are currently in hiatus until Group 1 racing resumes next month.
Information on all of Proven’s 2025 yearlings can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – ALPINE EAGLE
A bit of a left field one this week but this son of HIGH CHAPARRAL won four of the nine races at Hobart over the weekend as well as a race at Seymour. A tidy effort for a sire that currently stands for $4400!
BLACK BOOKER – TOWN CRIER
Had to do a power of work to lead first-up over 1200m at Eagle Farm and was only collared in the shadows of the post, cruelly missing a place despite finishing only 0.6 lengths from the winner. He has made steady improvement with every preparation and this was a career best effort in decent company. Has a very good winning strike rate of 33% so knows where the finish line is.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Canterbury Wednesday Jul 23
BM72 Handicap 1900m
ELLE HUDSON
Joe Pride/Alysha Collett
Comment: Was working into the race nicely here second-up over 1550m but was severely hampered by a riderless horse. Still managed to run on into 6th and is proven third-up. Looks over the odds.
Sunshine Coast Friday Jul 25
QTIS 3YO BM68 Handicap 1000m
ZATANNA
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Freshened since disappointing at the Sunshine Coast 7 weeks ago. Caught in the worst part of the track on that occasion and was a winner at her previous start so worth a forgive run.
QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap 1200m
IMPERIAL RED
Matt Hoysted/Damien Thornton
Comment: Doubt he was comfortable at the tight-turning Beaudesert when finishing runner-up as favourite fresh from a spell. Better for that experience, will be fitter and the bigger track suits.
Randwick Saturday Jul 26
BM88 Handicap 1100m
TERMAGANT
Matt Hoysted/Dylan Gibbons
Comment: Didn’t let down like we know she can on firm going at Eagle Farm a month ago. Lumped 62.5kg the start prior to the Sunshine Coast and raced in restricted room for most of the home stretch. Capable of sharp improvement with the sting out of the ground and 55kg on her back.
THE BLACK CLOUD
Joe Pride/Chad Schofield
Comment: Been bloused late in both runs back from a spell, the latest of which was the narrowest of margins at Caulfield. Likely to get preferred track conditions and doesn’t need to improve much to be winning this.
3&4YO BM72 Handicap 1100m
BREAK FREE
Matt Hoysted/Andrew Adkins
Comment: Promising filly on a hit and run mission to Sydney. Impressed with an easy win first-up win on a heavy (10) track before being collared late onto a good (4) at Eagle Farm. Comes back 100m in distance and will get the sting out of the ground. Top chance.
3&4YO BM78 Handicap 1300m
LITTLE COINTREAU
Joe Pride/Adam Hyeronimus
Comment: Absolutely bursting to win after four consecutive thirds and a pair of fourths this preparation. On a seven day turn around after being badly held up in the home straight at Rosehill. Gets onto the Randwick course proper for the first time in his career.
Doomben Saturday Jul 26
Class 3 Plate 1200m
BOARD MEMBER
Matt Hoysted/Luke Dempsey
Comment: Brave in defeat last start, finishing runner-up as an $18 chance. Drops 2kg and stays in the same company, whilst rising from 1110m to 1200m which will suit. However an ominous weather forecast could see her saved for another day.
Kembla Grange Saturday Jul 26
CG&E Maiden Plate 1300m
ALDEZOR
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Almost too bad to be true last start, tailing off first-up over 1100m at Canterbury on heavy (8) ground. He’s clearly better than that, based on his only other run to date when he finished within 2.2 lengths of the winner over 1150m on a soft (5) at the Kensington track.
Provincial Maiden Handicap 1500m
WILD THOUGHTS
Kerry Parker/TBA
Comment: Lightly-raced gelding with a good deal of ability. Been set for this race after resuming with a second placing behind subsequent winner COLD BREW over 1300m at Hawkesbury. Gets on to his home track and should have no problems seeing out the 1500m.
Ipswich Sunday Jul 27
Class 2 Plate 1100m
ZATANNA
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Freshened since disappointing at the Sunshine Coast 7 weeks ago. Caught in the worst part of the track on that occasion and was a winner at her previous start so worth a forgive run.
QTIS 2YO Maiden Handicap 1100m
EMPHATIQUE
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: First starter. Has indicated ability in her trials but will be giving away race experience on a specialist track.
