Snowden chases Coolmore redemption with Beadman and Raging Force
Peter Snowden is hoping history repeats itself at Flemington on Saturday 14 years after Sepoy (Elusive Quality) gave him one of his most memorable victories in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), with the master trainer preparing to launch a strong two-pronged attack in this year’s renewal of the stallion-making Group 1.
The Snowden stable will be represented by Beadman (Snitzel) and Raging Force (Cosmic Force), two talented three-year-olds looking to upset the Godolphin-owned favourites Beiwacht (Bivouac) and Tentyris (Street Boss) in the $2 million sprint down the Flemington straight.
The Coolmore has proven elusive for Snowden since Sepoy’s brilliant victory over Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock) in 2011. His more recent contenders include expensive colt turned Armidale Stud-stallion Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) and now Eureka Stud sire Don Corleone (Extreme Choice). That pair failed to feature, but the trainer believes change could be in the air this year.
Beadman, who stormed onto the scene with an emphatic 8.5-length win in the Ken Russell Classic (Gr 3, 1200m) at the Gold Coast in May, has made an encouraging start to his spring campaign.
The son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) resumed with a third behind Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Marhoona (Snitzel) in the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m) before going down narrowly to Hidden Motive (Capitalist) in the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) last start.
“I think both of his runs have been quite good,” Snowden told ANZ News. “If you watch his last start he definitely should have won, so I think his form is on track.”
Drawn barrier eight and to be partnered by Blake Shinn, Beadman has impressed Snowden in his work since, including a sharp straight-course jump-out last week, where he finished ahead of Beiwacht.
“He was fine [down the straight],” Snowden said. “It was a good trial – he trialled very strongly, very straight and direct, and it didn’t affect him at all. Come Saturday, if he reproduces something like that, he’s in with a great chance.”
Sporting the red and yellow-starred silks of China Horse Club, Beadman was a $900,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy.
Victory in the Coolmore would not only give Snowden a long-awaited second win in one of Australia’s premier stallion-making races but also deliver immense value for the colt’s high-profile ownership group.
Snowden said: “It is a race we have had in mind from when we tipped him out. This was the race we wanted to try and win, and so far, things are going to plan for him. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens on Saturday.”
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Beadman is the best of three winners out of French Listed winner Iffranesia (Iffraaj), who produced a colt by Snitzel last year and is now in foal to Dundeel (High Chaparral).
“He’s very good,” Snowden said. “He’s got a great temperament and a great demeanour. He’s very quiet, he’s a pleasure to work with.”
Beadman will be joined in the field by stablemate Raging Force, one of only three geldings in the 12-horse line-up.
The son of Cosmic Force (Deep Field), who finished sixth behind Exceedance (Exceed And Excel) in the 2019 edition of the race, will attempt to give his young sire a first top-level winner.
Raging Force finished a close second behind Tentyris in the Gothic Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Caulfield last start, showing he was ready to step up to Group 1 company.
“He’s a nice horse,” Snowden said. “He has won four from seven and the only blunder on his copy book was two starts back when he went way too hard in the Run To The Rose. Ridden a bit more conservative last start, it was much, much better, and the second favourite got him right on the line.
“There’s room for improvement off that run. He had a bit of a freshen-up before that, so I’m quite confident he can run well as well.”
Raging Force will again be partnered by Tommy Berry, the pair boasting a flawless record of four wins from four starts together.
“I was uming and arghing on coming to the Coolmore with him or not,” Snowden said. “But after watching his last start at Caulfield, he was very strong for the 1200, and I think he’s going to get the trip well enough. Tom has got a great association with him, so it’s good to see them reunited again on Saturday.”
Although he hasn’t raced or trialled down the Flemington straight, Snowden made sure the gelding had a look at the track during a Tuesday morning gallop.
“He worked down the straight on Tuesday morning, so he has had a look,” Snowden said. “I couldn’t trial him there because he ran the Saturday prior, so it was just too quick to back him up, but he had a good look on Tuesday morning and he was perfect on his own. He didn’t hesitate and was pretty strong in his work.”
A $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Darby Racing, Raging Force has continually exceeded expectations. He made his debut as a pre-Christmas two-year-old with a midfield finish in the Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m), then returned in June to reel off four consecutive wins with a combined margin of 9.6 lengths.
The most impressive of those came in the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m), where he defeated Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) by 1.43 lengths, with Beiwacht back in third.
“He is talented,” Snowden said. “He was just a very modest purchase at the sales, and he just kept on improving, he’s a high-quality horse.
“Scott Darby is very good [at picking them]. They do their homework well, they buy well, and they don’t pay much money, but they get big results.”
The stablemates have drawn side by side in barriers seven and eight, a position Snowden believes is ideal for both colts down the straight.
“At least he will know his mate in the gates,” Snowden said. “They’ve drawn seven and eight, I like to draw out, especially down the straight.
“I think you can be dictated to when you draw one to five or six. Unless you’ve got a lot of pace, you get shuffled back, or they always come to the middle, so you’re racing on an angle. Whereas where we’ve drawn, it’s straight down the middle, so I’m really happy with the draw.”
After several years of frustration in the Coolmore, Snowden is optimistic his 2025 pairing might be the one to change his fortunes.
“I’m hopeful. They are two nice horses,” he said. “They’ve been racing well and their form going into this year’s race is quite strong. Beadman for mine – hopefully he’s the right one.”