‘I couldn’t hear them coming’ – Beadman powers to hugely impressive Ken Russell Classic success
The most impressive winner in the country on Saturday was undoubtedly Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) colt Beadman, with the Peter Snowden-trained juvenile powering to an all-the-way victory in the Ken Russell Classic (Gr 3, 1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Having trialled up promisingly with a win at Rosehill on April 4, Beadman made his debut at Kembla Grange on April 15, eventually finishing second in a 1000-metre contest – beaten 0.3 lengths by subsequent metro runner-up Akaysha (Capitalist).
Building on that debut effort, he came home a 1.9-length winner of a 1250-metre maiden at Newcastle on April 26 and was sent off the $1.80 favourite for Saturday’s Group 3 on the back of that success.
Ridden by James McDonald and racing in the colours of part-owner China Horse Club, Peter Snowden’s colt appreciated the Heavy 8 conditions and kicked clear rounding the home bend before powering away to leave his 12 rivals toiling in his wake.
With J-Mac easing down in the saddle approaching the winning line, the closest any rival got to Beadman was late closer Sunrays (Hellbent) who finished 8.3 lengths adrift second – with a further 1.8 lengths back to Fabulantes (Star Turn) in third.
“He’s always promised a lot and he’s a beautiful type. So he’s definitely got a bright future. That was the definition of sustained speed,” said McDonald – who was having his first ride aboard the colt since a runner-up effort in a trial at Warwick Farm on March 21.
“I couldn’t hear them coming, which was a bit of a worry because I didn’t want one of them to blouse him. I hadn’t expected him to be that far in front of them, so I was able to be pretty soft on him late.
“He’s a big colt and he’s still learning his craft, so he won’t take any harm from that and I’m sure he’ll win another race up here.”
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Beadman was purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy for $900,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the best of three winners out of French Listed-winning Iffraaj (Zafonic) mare Iffranesia, who had a colt by Snitzel last year and is now in foal to Dundeel (High Chaparral).
While acknowledging the colt’s huge progression in the space of a month, Snowden revealed a crack at the BRC Sires Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) on May 31 could be next for Beadman.
“The only question was whether he could handle that sort of track. He handled it pretty well at Newcastle but this one was a bit different. He kept skipping along on it, and for James to let him stride before the corner, I knew they must be going pretty well,” the trainer said.
“The progression he’s made just this last month is pretty incredible.
“He’s clearly very talented, and he doesn’t know how good he is. He doesn’t overdo it in his trackwork, he’s a very laid-back customer. He did give me the feeling that we could come up here and win a decent race with him, but he’s certainly surprised me today with that performance.
“We’ll soak up the win first, but I don’t think seven furlongs will be any problem for him so we’ll definitely be looking towards the Sires with him.”
Beadman became the 159th individual stakes winner for Arrowfield’s champion sire Snitzel, who currently sits comfortably atop of the two-year-old sires’ standings.