A quartet of Joe Pride-trained 3yos will be out to rid themselves of maiden status at the races this week.
NOBLE PRIDE will have first bite of the cherry at Warwick Farm’s midweek meeting, before GONDORFF and PROXIMA CENTAURI clash at Wyong on Thursday.
Then it will be over to OPINE (pictured) at Canberra on Friday where the meeting will be conducted on the polytrack.
The first win of a horse’s career can often be the sweetest, as it is preceded by a lengthy period of anticipation. In the case of our four Pride 3yos this week, a maiden win would be more than 2 years in the making.
The winter has historically been a fruitful period for the Pride stable’s 3yos, in the last two seasons the colder months witnessed the rise of both IN FLIGHT and KING’S SECRET towards BOBS Horse Of The Year honours.
Whilst there will be no three-peat of a BOBS Premiership Title this year, Joe is confident about his team of 3yos heading into their 4yo season.
Proven’s other representatives this week include the ever-consistent TOWN CRIER at Eagle Farm’s Tattersalls Tiara meeting on Saturday and ELLE HUDSON at Rosehill on the same day. However neither are set in stone starters, with the former drawn the carpark and the latter an emergency runner.
Our form analyst Nic Ashman’s latest SECTIONALS REVIEW article breaks down the debut victory of APEX PREDATOR and takes an early look at the final Group 1 of the season this Saturday – the Tattersalls Tiara (1400m).
Information on all of Proven’s latest acquisitions can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – ST MARK’S BASILICA
Two winners at Royal Ascot last week puts ST MARK’S BASILICA in rare air. The record number of winners for a second crop sire at the prestigious carnival is three and has been achieved only twice – BATED BREATH and CAMELOT. Proven is currently well positioned with two ST MARK’S BASILICA yearlings – a filly out of STOKED (Joe Pride) and a filly out of JEWELIANA (Matt Hoysted).
BLACK BOOKER – APEX PREDATOR
According to our form analyst Nic Ashman, this 2yo filly reeled off the 2nd fastest last 200m of the race to win on debut in 1:12.1, which on a Soft 7 track is close to 2L inside standard time for 1200m at Doomben. She did this after settling 2nd in the run and losing a plate. Trainer Matt Hoysted is planning to take her back to Doomben next month where she is likely to start hard in the market again.
RUNNERS THIS WEEK
Warwick Farm Wednesday June 24
Maiden Plate 1100m
NOBLE PRIDE
Joe Pride/Adam Hyeronimus
Comment: Late maturing 3yo on debut up against some more experienced rivals over a distance that will ultimately be short of his best. That said, he has indicated above average ability and expecting him to run well.
BM72 Handicap 1100m
INDEFENSIBLE
Joe Pride/Jay Ford
Comment: First-up. Yet to trouble the scorer in three previous fresh runs but has finished 1st and 2nd in two previous starts here on her home track. Will be ridden quietly from a wide gate and hopefully finishing over the top of them.
Wyong Thursday Jun 25
Maiden Handicap 1350m
GONDORFF
Joe Pride/Chad Schofield
Comment: Caught the eye late on debut over 1100m when finishing 6th. Staying bred kiwi that can only improve going up to 1350m.
PROXIMA CENTAURI
Joe Pride/Andrew Adkins
Comment: Resuming. Didn’t fire in three runs during her first racing preparation. Needs to lift but probably won’t get a proper guide on her until she gets over further.
Canberra Friday June 26
Maiden Plate 1280m
OPINE
Joe Pride/Leeshelle Small
Comment: Did plenty wrong on debut at Gosford but stuck to the task well when finishing 4th, 2.85 lengths astern of the winner. Unknown on the poly track but with natural improvement he can win this grade of race.
Eagle Farm Saturday June 27
BM85 Handicap 1200m
TOWN CRIER
Matt Hoysted/Fiona Sandkuhl (a3)
Comment: Form around him has stacked up nicely with the horse he ran 2nd to last start – SOOTHSAYER – winning a stakes race at Ipswich last Saturday. Racing well but has another wide gate to contend with.
Rosehill Saturday Jun 27
BM78 Handicap 1800m
ELLE HUDSON
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Declared as 6th emergency at acceptance time on Wednesday so highly unlikely to gain a start but if he does squeeze into the field is worth a speck at odds after having no luck last start at Canterbury. His two runs prior had plenty of merit.
