Racing is a game of up and downs, peaks and troughs, high and lows. Call them what you want but we’ve experienced both ends with THINK ABOUT IT over the last 365 days.
Twelve months ago he won the world’s richest race on turf, The Everest, and collected $7milllion for his connections. On Saturday, exactly one year later, we watched him collapse in what at first looked a horrible incident that would cost our star his life.
Fortunately, the racing gods shone over him yet again on Everest day. This time in a bigger way and he survived. It was a dramatic bleeding attack, one the horse has recovered well from and has now been retired.
Meanwhile, PRIVATE EYE was gallant finishing just out of the placings in the Everest. His half-brother, KINGS SECRET, makes his debut at Hawkesbury on Thursday and will take a stack of beating in the Inglis Xtra Boosted Maiden where the winner can take home more than $130,000. At the same meeting is FLYING BANDIT, who is set to peak at his first run over a staying trip.
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SIRE ON FIRE – COOL AZA BEEL
Got his first winner from just his third starter last week when COOL AZA RENE scored at Otaki. It’s a great result for a son of SAVABEEL given they often take time and especially for a stallion not based in the Hunter Valley.
BLACK BOOKER – SECOND SUN
Resumed in a Class 1 last week at Doomben and produced some strong late splits suggesting we can follow him second-up out in trip. Would think he peaks third-up but can win next time in the right race.
BET WITH NIC
Times analyst Nic Ashman’s tips in this article now sit at 15 winners from 22 selections after finding DUKE DE SESSA at double figure odds in the Caulfield Cup. In fact, the gelding was $25 when we posted this article 7 days ago before trimming up to $11 SP.
“Given EL CASTELLO has beaten his main rivals in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes and maps to settle in front of them here, I can’t see why he isn’t favourite? At $4.40, he’s my bet.”
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Hawkesbury Thursday October 24
Maiden Handicap 1000m
KING’S SECRET
Joe Pride/Jason Collett
Comment: On debut but we think he’s loaded with ability. Half-brother to stable star PRIVATE EYE and Joe keeps telling us he’s getting better with each piece of work.
BM68 Handicap 2000m
FLYING BANDIT
Kerry Parker/Jay Ford
Comment: Has been super this prep, just half a run short of peak fitness each time when we look at his sectionals. But that should change here and the horse that beat him last start, STATE OF AMERICA, has won again.
Doomben Saturday October 26
3YO Open Handicap 1100m
ZATANNA
Matt Hoysted/Nikita Beriman
Comment: Led them up over 1000m when resuming and her sectionals late suggest she needed the run. Will improve here and might get a softer run on pace.
Sunshine Coast Sunday October 27
Maiden Plate 1000m
WATERTIGHT
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: On debut. His trial didn’t rate as well as stablemate LARADO’s trial but he did it fairly comfortably and he’s very well bred out of a G1 winner.
LARADO
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: First starter. Trialled nicely at Deagon over 650m in a heat where they ran slick time. Given he’s by TORONADO, he might improve out to 1000m under race conditions.
