The Steve O’Dea-trained SCALLOPINI will be shooting for three straight stakes wins when he lines up in the Ascot Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Winner of the Sunshine Coast Cup and Hinkler Handicap in his last two outings, SCALLOPINI has been ultra consistent for his owners, netting $450k in only 21 starts.
The five-year-old gelding is one of a host of runners for Proven Thoroughbreds in the week ahead – another last start winner DON’T DESPAIR heads to Doomben on Wednesday while INVINCIANO resumes for the Joe Pride stable at Canterbury on the same day.
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Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners:
Canterbury Wednesday June 10
BM70 Handicap 1100m:
INVINCIANO
Joe Pride/Brenton Avdulla
Comment: Put in two good trials last month as she prepares for what is shaping as an important preparation in her career. Likely to find some of these too sharp over 1100m but is a city winner and was unlucky in her only previous run here.
Doomben Wednesday June 10
BM65 Handicap 2070m:
DON’T DESPAIR
Steve O’Dea/Boris Thornton
Comment: Appreciated being allowed to roll last time out and was dominant over the concluding stages. Coming back slightly in trip a small query.
Goulburn Friday June 12
Maiden Handicap 1300m:
HINVICTUS
Joe Pride/Brodie Loy
Comment: Copped some interference at a crucial stage of the race last month but would not have threatened the winner. With a kinder run he can figure third-up.
Maiden Plate 1000m:
SEBERTON
Joe Pride/Blaike McDougall
Comment: Always had his fair share talent this horse but mental immaturity probably got the better of him in his first preparation. Recent trials would indicate he has furnished into a racehorse now and strikes a winnable maiden first-up.
FIGHT FOR LOVE
John Bateman/Jeff Penza
Comment: Caught wide first-up over 1200m and tired late. Comes back to 1000m and but has a home track advantage.
Eagle Farm Saturday June 13
Listed Ascot Handicap 1200m:
SCALLOPINI
Steve O’Dea/Boris Thornton
Comment: Continues to improve with every preparation this horse, evidenced by an exhilarating win first-up in the Hinkler. Up to 1200m and Eagle Farm are two huge pluses as he strives for three consecutive stakes scalps.
Group 3 Eagle Farm Mile 1600m:
TAMARACK
Joe Pride/Boris Thornton
Comment: Wily veteran who is known to mix his form but one thing is for sure is that he dislikes heavy tracks. Likely to get a firm surface at Eagle Farm which could spark sharp improvement.
Rosehill Saturday June 13
BM88 Handicap 1100m:
KYLEASE
Joe Pride/TBA
Comment: Scratched last week due to the heavy track. Would need the Rosehill surface to get back into the slow range to be considered a winning chance however she plunges 7.5kg in weight from her last run.