John Bateman’s pursuit of a country feature with NICCONITA may take him as far as Dubbo on Sunday.
The $100,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) is a possibility for NICCONITA, with the alternative being a 1600m benchmark race at Kembla on Saturday.
The daughter of NICCONI would have to be one of the highest non-city winning earners currently racing in New South Wales with almost $200,000 to her name.
Also nominated for Dubbo is promising stablemate BOMBARDEO in the 1400m Showcase Maiden following two excellent runs over shorter distances. Like NICCONITA, the four-year-old gelding has been entered for Kembla as a back-up.
Proven Thoroughbreds’ other runners this week include LITTLE RIVER at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. The grey three-year-old filly finished third on debut last month and is one of the fancied runners in the 1200m midweek maiden.
BLACKBOOKER
YOU CHOOSE looked to have plenty up his sleeve in a trial win at Doomben on Tuesday morning. The three-year-old son of CHOISIR is yet to make his race debut but looks well educated by trainer Steve O’Dea. That was his first public trial so expecting him to only improve when he gets to the races.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners:
Eagle Farm Wednesday September 9
QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap 1200m:
LITTLE RIVER
Steve O’Dea/Ron Stewart
Comment: Promising start to her career when third over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast. Distance was too short for her there and suspect the first two home in that race will turn out to be city-class at least.
Class 2 Handicap 1200m:
INVIGORATING
Steve O’Dea/Mark Du Plessis
Comment: Racing well without winning of late. Stays at 1200m third-up and was luckless at her only previous run here when 3.5 lengths behind Malahide which is easily good enough form for this.
Sunshine Coast Friday September 11
Class 3 Handicap 1400m:
TOO HOT TO HOLD
Steve O’Dea/Anthony Allen
Comment: Sound third first-up at the Sunshine Coast and then simply run off her feet when fourth at the Gold Coast. Gets her chance third-up.
Class 1 Handicap 1400m:
GOLDNEALA
Steve O’Dea/Ben Thompson
Comment: Likely needed the run fresh when sixth over 1200m at the Gold Coast. The step up to 1400m suits and was a winner at her only previous second-up run.
Maiden Handicap 1400m:
ENRIQUE
Steve O’Dea/Stephanie Thornton
Comment: Slow away on debut here but recovered to position a touch worse than midfield before hitting the line late. Winner of that race looks smart. Should appreciate the extra 100m.
Kembla Saturday September 12
BM64 Handicap 1600m:
NICCONITA
John Bateman/TBA
Comment: Racing consistently in town this preparation and looking for a mile now.
4YO&UP Maiden Handicap 1400m:
BOMBARDEO
John Bateman/Blaike McDougall
Comment: Excellent in two runs to date. Came very wide last start at Newcastle and loomed up to win but not surprisingly ran out of puff late. A more economical run would see him right in the finish here.
Dubbo Sunday September 13
Dubbo Gold Cup 1600m:
NICCONITA
John Bateman/TBA
Comment: Racing consistently in town this preparation and looking for a mile now.
Showcase Maiden Handicap 1400m:
BOMBARDEO
John Bateman/TBA
Comment: Excellent in two runs to date. Came very wide last start at Newcastle and loomed up to win but not surprisingly ran out of puff late. A more economical run would see him right in the finish here.
Sunshine Coast Sunday September 13
F&M Maiden Handicap 1400m:
OCEAN TREATY
Steve O’Dea/Ben Thompson
Comment: Hit the line sweetly first-up from an extended break. She’s a staying-bred mare who will likely need this run also but remains largely untapped.