ACCREDITED is set to race in Victoria on Saturday in an attempt to dodge wet weather and gain a start in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) up at Eagle Farm on June 14.
The Joe Pride-trained gelding will need to win the 1400m BM100 event at Sandown from a wide draw if he’s any chance of making the Stradbroke field but will be favoured by a mostly clear weather forecast. As of Wednesday afternoon the Sandown surface was rated a good (4).
Similarly, stablemate INDEFENSIBLE will travel to Canberra’s polytrack meeting on Friday to escape Sydney’s big wet. The daughter of ALL TOO HARD is looking to bounce back from a heavy track defeat first-up at Wyong.
LITTLE COINTREAU, another Pride galloper, hasn’t been able to find a suitable alternative race, and so will brave the conditions at Warwick Farm’s midweek fixture in preparation for a 1500m race at Rosehill on Saturday week.
Meanwhile trainer Kerry Parker is keeping his options open with Queensland Oaks hopeful ELIVINA with nominations held at Randwick and Newcastle on Saturday as well as the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. A final decision on where she runs will largely be weather dependant and if officials come up with any contingency meetings.
Last Saturday was a memorable one for the Proven team with IN FLIGHT breaking through for a deserved stakes success in the Listed Bright Shadow Stakes at Eagle Farm, about an hour before ZATANNA trounced her rivals at the Gold Coast.
This week’s SECTIONALS REVIEW (authored by form analyst Nic Ashman) takes a look at the merits of IN FLIGHT’s stakes triumph while also revealing a new Melbourne Cup contender.
Information on all of Proven’s 2025 yearlings can be viewed on our AVAILABLE HORSES page.
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SIRE ON FIRE – RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
On Tuesday we wrote a piece about the trajectory of RUSSIAN REVOLUTION’s stud career. Last Saturday he achieved the very rare feat of trifecta-ing a stakes race (Luskin Star Stakes). Is this son of SNITZEL about to burst back to life? Read on HERE…
BLACK BOOKER – ZATANNA
Made a lie of her first-up defeat with an impressive display of sustained speed on the Gold Coast poly track last Saturday. Clearly she’s a horse that performs best when she can lead on her own and effectively dictate the race. Gives the impression 1100m will be of no concern if she steps up to that distance next start.
BET WITH NIC
Our times analyst Nic Ashman will be publishing his popular best bet for Saturday’s racing on Friday.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Warwick Farm Wednesday May 21
BM72 Handicap 1300m
LITTLE COINTREAU
Joe Pride/Benjamin Osmond (a2)
Comment: Faces a task on very heavy ground but needs to run in preparation for a race at Rosehill on Saturday week.
Canberra Acton Friday May 23
Maiden Handicap 1080m
INDEFENSIBLE
Joe Pride/Jeff Penza
Comment: Resented a heavy track first-up at Wyong but managed to hold down fourth. Trials this time in indicated a good level of ability so looking for her to bounce back on the synthetic surface here.
Sandown Saturday May 24
BM100 Handicap 1400m
ACCREDITED
Joe Pride/Jamie Melham
Comment: Really motored late first-up in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford to get within a long neck of the winner. Extra 200m suits and is well placed on 55kg back to benchmark grade.
Randwick Saturday May 24
BM72 Handicap 1800m
ELIVINA
Kerry Parker/TBA
Comment: Untried on genuine heavy ground but is likely to strike a rain affected surface wherever she goes this week. Needs to win in order to give herself a chance of starting in the Queensland Oaks.
Hawkesbury Tuesday May 27
BM64 Handicap 1100m
KING’S SECRET
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Just missed last time out in a race where they gapped third in fast time. Ready for 1100m now and will be hard to beat if the track gets back into the soft range.
Maiden Handicap 1100m
COLUMBIA BLUE
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Did a great job to finish second on debut to a more experienced rival. His sectionals were very good and can only improve here. Big chance.
