Proven Thoroughbreds is delighted to confirm our miracle horse THINK ABOUT IT has found his forever home with jockey Sam Clipperton.
Sam partnered THINK ABOUT IT in nine of his 11 career victories so it was appropriate that the ownership group voted for the gelding to retire at Sam’s property in the Hunter Valley, following a dramatic incident at Randwick two Saturdays ago.
The 6yo will actually spend the next 6 months at a neighbouring farm with another former Pride-trained champion TERRAVISTA, before Sam has him re-trained as a stock horse.
Some photos of Sam and THINK ABOUT IT were recently shared on social media (see below):
So good to see đź’š
Think About It settling in well with Sam Clipperton at his new home 🏡 pic.twitter.com/upPEyBERNa
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 27, 2024
Meanwhile, racing fans were treated to an epic renewal of the Cox Plate as VIA SISTINA romped home in a physics-defying performance.
The mare’s win was a new track record and rated better than any of WINX’s quartet!
According to our form analyst Nic Ashman, the Moonee Valley track was pushing a Firm 2 by the time the Cox Plate field jumped, after the meeting started on a Good 4.
“The Cox Plate was a timely reminder of why watering tracks can be problematic when assessing past versus current performances in big races,” Ashman said.
“When tracks are watered, the raw sectionals from earlier races look mediocre and as a ratings analyst, you have to try and factor this in. With great difficulty I might add!
“Watering creates lanes and lanes create bias. Jockeys aren’t used to Firm tracks and can misjudge the pace of races.
“At Moonee Valley on Saturday we had just 3 of 10 races run at an above average tempo. The winners of those 3 races settled 8th, 8th and 6th at the 800m.”
Proven’s upcoming runners is headed by PRIVATE EYE, who contests the Winners Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill for the third consecutive year, having won the race in 2022 and run the narrowest of seconds to BELLA NIPOTINA last year. That pair are set to resume hostilities this Saturday, with PRIVATE EYE the recipient of a 1kg weight swing for a 1.56 length defeat in The Everest (1200m) earlier this month.
Our QLD runners this week include the in-form NAVAL TRADER as well as consistent mares OCEAN ZAR and CARTWHEELS.
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SIRE ON FIRE – SNITZEL
Showed his versatility again by siring the Geelong Classic (2200m) winner SAINT EMILLION last Wednesday before a sprint double at Moonee Valley on Saturday courtesy of BARAQIEL in the G2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) and BITTERCREEK in the G2 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m). Meanwhile, at Randwick on the same day, he sired the winner of the G2 Callander-Presnell (1600m) PROST.
BLACK BOOKER – KING’S SECRET
Should have won his debut at Hawkesbury last week but lost no admirers clocking the fastest last 800m at the meeting.
BET WITH NIC
Times analyst Nic Ashman’s tips in this article now sit at 16 winners from 23 selections after tipping EL CASTELLO to win the G1 Spring Champion Stakes last week.
“The international ratings ASCOLI PICENO possesses are up to our G1 WFA races. A wide gate means she gets room to move. I’d rather that than barrier one in the $10million Golden Eagle.”
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Doomben Wednesday October 30
BM62 Handicap 1600m
SECOND SUN
Matt Hoysted/Boris Thornton
Comment: Raced a tad fresh when resuming over 1350m but his sectionals clearly show this horse needs further than that. Whether he needs one more to top him off is the question but the mile should suit him well here.
Eagle Farm Saturday November 2
BM78 Handicap 1400m
OCEAN ZAR
Matt Hoysted/Nikita Beriman
Comment: Second-up. Resumed at the Sunny Coast and while out of the placings wasn’t beaten far. Has had a gap between runs and a trial. She’s unbeaten second-up and we expect her to be right in the mix here.
NAVAL TRADER
Matt Hoysted/Jasper Franklin (a3)
Comment: Racing well and will find this easier than recent Listed assignment against the talented YELLOW BRICK. Got to lump 60.5kg but has earned the weight with his consistency and the rating he produced last start says he can win with the impost.
BM68 Handicap 1600m
CARTWHEELS
Matt Hoysted/Andrew Mallyon
Comment: Probably found the 1400m first-up a tad too much with her late splits indicating she peaked on her run. She will strip fitter but needs to as there’s an extra 200m here. Talented filly that should be getting close to 100% peak fitness.
Toowoomba Saturday November 2
Maiden Handicap 1000m
BOARD MEMBER
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Settled handy in the run when resuming over 800m but wasn’t zippy enough to grab them clocking the best last 600m of the race. Up to 1000m will suit and looks hard to beat.
3YO Maiden Plate 1000m
SKYPORT LANE
Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Led them up over 800m first-up but late sectionals show she tired. She’s a fitter commodity going into this and we expect her to be harder to run down this time.
Rosehill Saturday November 2
G3 Gold Cup 2000m
STOCKMAN
Joe Pride/Reece Jones
Comment: Struggling for form and generally needs a wet track, which he is unlikely to get here. But he loves the 2000m at Rosehill with some fantastic form references that gives us some hope he might cause a surprise and run in the placings.
Winners Stakes 1300m
PRIVATE EYE
Joe Pride/Jay Ford
Comment: Won this race two years ago and was a narrow 2nd to BELLA NIPOTINA last year. Beaten 1.56L in the Everest last start and if he holds that form he should be going very close in this.
