Lead News
‘Not many horses do what he did that day’
Runaway Ken Russell Classic winner Beadman set for return
By Trevor Marshallsea
ANZ News
Most of last season’s top echelon of two-year-olds have reappeared for the spring, those who were front and centre on the biggest autumn stages.
But one who took a road less travelled that could turn out the most special of them all will resume at Rosehill on Saturday, with connections trying to keep a lid on their excitement.
The colt is Beadman (Snitzel), who was slow to hand, not just because he was a November foal but due to a sequence of minor issues, but who announced himself emphatically in three late autumn starts.
Bred by Arrowfield and Hermitage Thoroughbreds, out of a French stakes-winning sprinter by Iffraaj (Zafonic), Beadman fetched a hefty $900,000 when bought at Magic Millions Gold Coast by the China Horse Club-Newgate axis, along with Go Bloodstock and Trilogy in 2024.
Sent to Peter Snowden, he only had his first barrier trial the day before the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m), running second at Warwick Farm before winning another heat at Rosehill two weeks later.
The handsome chestnut debuted with a 0.3-length second in a 1000-metre Kembla Grange maiden, beaten by filly Akaysha (Capitalist), a stablemate who’s been stakes-placed twice in her three subsequent runs.
Beadman franked the form with an imposing 1.93 lengths victory at his second start, in a 1250-metre Newcastle maiden, starting $1.35.
But it was what he did next that blew people away - including Snowden and jockey James McDonald - in the Gold Coast’s Ken Russell Classic (Gr 3, 1200m). Stepping up into a classy 13-horse field on a Heavy 8, but still sent off at odds-on, he took up the lead and just drew further and further away, winning by the proverbial panels of fencing.
The second horse Sunrays (Hellbent) finished 8.3 lengths behind him. She won her next two in Brisbane Listed class.
“Not many horses do what he did that day,” McDonald told ANZ News.
What's On
“I just didn’t realise we were that far in front in the straight - that’s the way he travelled. I was waiting to hear the field coming so I’d push the button on him, but I couldn’t hear them. I looked around at the 200 and they were a mile behind.”
McDonald has ridden the odd handy one, so he’s had the feel Beadman gave him “plenty” of times before.
“But still, he couldn’t have been any more impressive than he was that day,” he said. “He’s well on his way.”
Veteran trainer Snowden has felt the hard edge of racing’s fates too often to make too bold a statement about a young horse, especially one who’s only had three starts.
But he does have to try harder than usual to “keep a lid on things” about Beadman, who after two recent barrier trials - the latest a win under McDonald at Randwick - resumes in Saturday’s Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m).
It’s a quality field, featuring, among others, another of Snitzel’s (Redoute’s Choice) offspring who did star on a grand autumn stage - Slipper winner Marhoona.
Several other star two-year-olds of last season will compete elsewhere on the card in the Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m). Beadman is on a sprint path for now, but Snowden expects he’ll handle 1400 metres or perhaps more later on.
Reporting Beadman has come back from a lengthy spell 50 kilograms heavier and “a magnificent” beast of a colt, Snowden expects he’ll acquit himself well on Saturday, even if 1100 metres may be a fraction short and he may be better placed to prove himself the real deal later in the spring.
“He’s really furnished now - he’s the finished product,” Snowden told ANZ. “He’s bigger in the backside, the shoulder - all over. He’s really developed a lot.
“I thought, ‘Wow - they don’t do that unless they’re above average’. And then you think the horse who ran second came out and won two stakes races afterwards. That makes you think he could be something better than normal
“When he first came into the stable, he was a little light version of himself. He had a few issues - nothing major - that slowed him down a bit. He went shin sore pretty quickly, because he was late getting in.
“So it took him a while to come to hand, but you wouldn’t see a better sort anywhere now. He’s just a magnificent horse now.”
Snowden won’t look too far ahead, beyond saying the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on October 11 at Rosehill will likely be Beadman’s next start, before the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day. Beadman is an $8 equal third favourite for that stallion-maker, behind Tempted (Street Boss) at $4.50 and ahead of that other filly, Marhoona, at $15.
But the trainer is happy to look back, and while he’s seen many impressive thoroughbreds, he admits Beadman took his breath away at the Gold Coast.
“He was always a nice horse, and a beautiful looking horse,” Snowden said.
“His first start at Kembla, he probably should’ve won, but the horse who beat him ended up a pretty smart filly.
“He had a really good win at Newcastle, but then he went to the Gold Coast and met a couple of good horses. The track was particularly wet that day, but I was surprised by just how big a gap he put on them. And he was still impressive through the line - he just kept running and running and running. It was pretty impressive.
“I thought, ‘Wow - they don’t do that unless they’re above average’. And then you think the horse who ran second came out and won two stakes races afterwards. That makes you think he could be something better than normal.”
Newgate managing director Henry Field certainly liked what he saw at the Gold Coast in the yearling Beadman, whose dam Iffranesia (Iffraaj) won nine times from 1000-1100 metres, including in Listed class at Chantilly, alongside three black type placings.
He liked the price as well, about a colt who’s taken the right early steps to becoming a Newgate stallion prospect.
“Beadman was just a big, strong, athletic, sweet-moving horse - really lovely quality,” Field told ANZ. “He was hugely athletic, but with plenty of size and scope.
“He was by a champion sire in Snitzel, out of an Iffraaj mare, and that Iffraaj blood has worked pretty well here; obviously he’s the sire of [the late] Wootton Bassett.
Advertisement
_page_1.jpeg)
“The colt was raised on a good farm at Arrowfield, who we’ve had a lot of success buying Group 1 winners from, so he ticked a few boxes.
Advertisement
“I thought he was the stand-out Snitzel colt at Magic Millions that year, so I probably thought he’d make a bit more than $900,000 to be honest. I thought we’d have to pay north of a million, rather than less.
“So we were very happy to get him, and we’re liking what we’re seeing so far. Fast mare, fast stallion, fast horse.
“He showed really good ability as a two-year-old, so we’re hoping to see it transfer through to his three-year-old year. I can’t wait to see him let rip on Saturday.
“Peter’s got a huge opinion of him. Whatever he does on Saturday, he’ll make great improvement on. We just want to see him run really well and if he does that we’ll be happy.”
Snowden gives Beadman an even chance for the Heritage. He’s the trainer’s top seed for the Coolmore but he also expects the “easy-going” colt to handle a longer trip later on.
“I’m not hiding the fact I really like the horse - I think he’s well above average - but he’s got to come back and do it again and do it better,” Snowden said.
“Even on Saturday - it’s a good field, it’s got the Slipper winner, and she’s been trialling very well, and she’s no slouch.
“And I don’t think 1100 metres is his trip. He probably wants 1200 or even 1400 in time. I’m not putting down his chances for Saturday, because I think he’ll run really well, but he’s not just an out and out sprinter; there’s a bit more substance to him than that.
“I’m not going to get too carried away; I never do. The racing ladder is a slippery one. But you do get a feel for him, that’s for sure, that there might be something there that’s a bit above the average.”
