This Saturday’s Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill will feature a quintet of Group 1 races, two of which Proven Thoroughbreds will be striving to win.
Everest hero THINK ABOUT IT returned an irregular blood sample on Wednesday but a subsequent test on Thursday indicated significant improvement which will likely see the gelding take his place as favourite in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) – pending the results of a third blood test before final scratching time on Saturday morning.
Unfortunately, THINK ABOUT IT will be given no favours from barrier 17 of 19 as he stretches out beyond 1400m for the first time in his short career but does boast the flashy second-up record of 4:4-0-0.
With the Rosehill surface drying out, PRIVATE EYE is set to line up in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) despite being shouldered with the 58kg topweight. Like his high profile stablemate, PRIVATE EYE will also have to overcome a wide draw.
The two-time Everest placegetter remains on track for his primary autumn target – the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships.
Meanwhile, Proven Thoroughbreds left this week’s Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale with a striking colt by ALABAMA EXPRESS from HIGH CHAPARRAL mare WICHITA WOMAN. The Kerry Parker-trained colt will be aiming to follow in the hoof prints of other Proven acquisitions from Adelaide such as PRIVATE EYE and unbeaten filly FORTUNEER.
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SIRE ON FIRE
Arguably now the best broodmare sire in the country, FASTNET ROCK produced his 21st stakes winner for the season via ZOUGOTCHA in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic last Saturday. His other highlight performers this season include STORM BOY, LADY OF CAMELOT, BODYGUARD, JOLIESTAR, VEIGHT, LEARNING TO FLY, SUNSETS, RENAISSANCE WOMAN & QUEEN OF THE BALL, etc. Proven has also enjoyed success with FASTNET ROCK as a broodmare sire with $650k earner BETTER GET SET. This year we purchased two yearling colts out of his daughters – FARNAN x LECTURE & FLYING ARTIE x ORDOS HONOR.
BLACK BOOKER
SPIN DOCTOR found himself in a fast run 1200m contest first-up at Eagle Farm. His jockey reported the gelding never travelled kindly and would improve sharply into his second-up run, adding his final 200m was his best of the race after being caught “flat-footed”.
BET WITH NIC
Our resident times analyst Nic Ashman gave us a push for STORM BOY when he was $2.50 seven days ago. A perfect barrier draw has since the Waterhouse and Bott-trained colt firm into $2.10 so we’ve asked Nic for another bet this weekend.
“John Sargent won the Epona Stakes last year with GIN MARTINI, who was unplaced at her previous run when resuming in the G3 Aspiration Quality. This year Sarge has $51 chance SO DAZZLING in the Epona and like her stablemate was unplaced in the Aspiration with genuine excuses. I also didn’t mind the run of VERONA first-up at Randwick and she’s $81 in the same race. Will be playing both mares each-way.”
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Rosehill Saturday March 23
Group 1 George Ryder Stakes 1500m
THINK ABOUT IT
Joe Pride/Sam Clipperton
Comment: Not disgraced first-up when taking off before the bend to beat all bar one horse in the Canterbury Stakes. Unbeaten second-up but he’s on trial at the trip and has a wide gate to contend with. His best can take care of that but he’ll need to find it.
Group 1 The Galaxy 1100m
PRIVATE EYE
Joe Pride/Nash Rawiller
Comment: Quietly ridden last start and found the line well recording the best last 200m of the day. Has posted exceptional ratings over this track and distance but needs it dry to show his best.
Group 3 Manion Cup 2400m
STOCKMAN
Joe Pride/Reece Jones
Comment: Working into form and that was highlighted by his plugging third last week over 2000m. Backs-up again but he relishes racing and wet tracks. Each-way.
Eagle Farm Saturday March 23
Class 3 Plate 1400m
OCEAN ZAR
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: She was our blackbooker two weeks ago after getting tired over the concluding stages at a mile. Back to 1400m will see her improve sharply and a soft gate will see her do no work in the run. Watch for her late.
Class 6 Handicap 1000m
RED RUBI
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Nikita Beriman
Comment: Exposed a tad earlier than ideal for this mare when third upon resuming. Maps to get cover for a long way, look for her to be cuddled up and saved for ambush-style late charge at them
Goulburn Sunday March 24
Super Maiden Showcase Handicap 1300m
FLYING BANDIT
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Played up in the mounting yard before debut last start, where he hit the line well to record the fastest last 200m of the race. He’ll derive huge benefit from that outing and is worth keeping an eye on.
