After narrowly avoiding disaster as he left the starting gates, promising galloper Beauden showed just what a talent he could become over a staying journey when he demolished his rivals in Saturday’s open 2000m event at Awapuni.
The Team Rogerson-trained five-year-old stumbled badly as the field emerged from the barrier with rider Ryan Elliot somehow maintaining his balance as his mount scrambled back to his feet.
Unable to take up his normal forward position, Beauden settled back before charging between runners in the home straight to streak clear for an effortless four-length victory.
Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson was still shaking his head 24 hours on from the performance as he thought the Bullbars gelding’s chances had all but been extinguished at the start.
“I just don’t know how he stayed on his feet, I really don’t,” he said.
“To then go on to do that was quite remarkable, although we’ve always thought he had the makings of a top horse.
“He’s been a bit of a work in progress and taken a while to mature but I think he might be at his peak now and he is quite capable of winning a good race this campaign.”
Just what that race will be is dependent on Beauden’s breeder and owner Joan Egan who Rogerson will consult in the next few days to determine his immediate target.
“Joan has just been wonderful with him, so patient and she has just let us take him along slowly over the past two seasons,” Rogerson said.
“We’ll sit down and have a good talk about our options as he is nominated for most of the summer features including the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) and right up to the Auckland Cup (Gr.1, 3200m), but in the end it will be Joan’s decision.
“I think a race like the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day would be ideal but we will have a clearer picture once we’ve had a chat about it all.”
Beauden was born and raised at Trelawney Stud for Egan and is the penultimate foal for Zedative mare Belle Femme. -NZ Racing Desk
