Another spring carnival is in the books and despite a forgettable final day at Flemington, Proven Thoroughbreds can celebrate a quartet of feature wins over the last eight weeks of world class racing.
Our first stakes winner came in the shape of SCALLOPINI, who trounced his rivals by 2.3 lengths in the Listed Tontonan Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 10. The 8YO gelding by SNITZEL has been a marvel for his owners, with 11 career wins (four at stakes level) from 38 starts.
SCALLOPINI’s career has been prolonged by the expert management of trainers Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted, and there is hopefully more to come with plans to target another Magic Millions carnival in January.
Three weeks after SCALLOPINI’s rout, Proven returned to the scene of the crime, this time with Group 1 winner PRIVATE EYE in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m). The Joe Pride-trained 5YO also proved a class above his opposition, winning by the same 2.3 length margin. The scintillating first-up performance would ultimately catapult PRIVATE EYE to a desperately close second in the $15 million The Everest (1200m) followed by an emphatic victory in the $3 million Nature Strip Stakes (1300m).
Unfortunately PRIVATE EYE couldn’t replicate in last Saturday’s Group 1 Champion’s Mile (1600m) at Flemington having put in three massive performances punctuated by two interstate trips. The son of AL MAHER will now head for a spell as we ponder his autumn targets.
Our other highlight horse during the spring was of course STOCKMAN, winner of the $500,000 St Leger (2600m) at Randwick before finishing an unlucky 8th in the $8 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The son of TAVISTOCK certainly did us proud in Australia’s greatest race and we would like to think he will be there again this time next year.
But as for the immediate future, the focus switches predominantly to Queensland, where the summer carnival of racing is beginning to heat up. This Saturday at Doomben could see the return of perhaps our most promising filly in STROLL, who defeated subsequent Group 1 winner ZOUGOTCHA in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Last start winner BETTER GET SET is also likely to feature at Doomben’s Saturday meeting.
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BLACK BOOKER
It wasn’t hard to spot the run of GAP YEAR at the Sunshine Coast on Monday. The 4YO mare was resuming after more than 10 months off the scene and should have kept her unbeaten record intact in the 1400m Class 1 but luck deserted her in the run home as rider Ben Thompson was faced with a wall of horses. She eventually got clear air down the outside of the straight and motored home but the bird had flown. We had to settle for third on this occasion but confident she can make amends next start.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Gosford Tuesday Nov 8
F&M Maiden Plate 1100m:
CHILLI JAM
Joe Pride/Regan Bayliss
Comment: Only start in her first campaign returned a creditable sixth behind subsequent stakes winner KIBOU in heavy 9 conditions. Looks to have come back well based on recent trials and might be over the odds here.
Ipswich Wednesday Nov 9
QTIS 3YO Maiden Plate 1350m:
EVERCLEAR
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: Debutant with mixed form in his trials. Has shown ability but yet to put it all together. This looks a suitable distance to tackle first-up.
Doomben Saturday Nov 12
BM80 Handicap 1200m
BETTER GET SET
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Ben Thompson
Comment: Coming off a dominant win at Eagle Farm when taking a split between runners to win racing away over this distance. Yet to win at Doomben but has placed in three from five attempts and couldn’t be going better.
QTIS 3YO BM72 Handicap 1200m
STROLL
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: Classy filly resuming. Claimed the scalp of ZOUGOTCHA during the winter and that form certainly reads well now. Has bigger fish to fry this campaign but is easily the most accomplished runner here.
