The choice to handle Beadman with more restraint during the Gold Coast Guineas has brought rewards for his team, who now have sights set on a campaign highlight in the Brisbane winter carnival’s top sprint.
This three-year-old had been unplaced in his previous two outings in Sydney following a victory in the Fireball Quality (1100m) on debut, leading to an adjustment in strategy for the Group 3 contest on Saturday.
“The last couple of starts he drew bad gates and going forward backfired. He has been over-racing,” trainer Peter Snowden said.
“Today, he was really good. He built into it, and he was strong late. You keep riding him those sort of races we’ll get better results.
“He’s a beautiful horse to deal with. He’s got a great nature, he’s got a great temperament and hopefully he can be a good horse.”
Beadman had made a stunning impact at the same fixture 12 months ago by claiming the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) by over eight lengths.
Back at the venue of his standout success on Saturday, the colt fell short of matching that winning margin, yet he affirmed his potential for the rest of the Queensland racing season.
Snowden revealed that the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm come June represents their key target, with Beadman slated for one additional outing, either in next weekend’s Doomben 10,000 (1200m) or the Fred Best Classic (1400m) two weeks prior to the Stradbroke.
“Discussions were made to run him next week in the (Doomben) 10,000. It’s on the table, but ultimately, a race like the Stradbroke is where you want to be,” Snowden said.
“We can go to the three-year-old race two weeks into that, or we back him up next week. We’ll see how the horse pulls up and make a call in a couple of days’ time.”
Successful rider James McDonald hopes the connections skip the 10,000, as he has a prior commitment aboard Napoleonic, trained by Tom Charlton.
“I’ve got a ride in the Doomben 10,000 so I don’t want him running there,” McDonald said.
“First time we’ve ridden him a bit conservatively, and he responded really well.”
Beadman ($2.60 fav) crossed the line a length in front of filly Nepo Baby ($5), while Motorsports ($14) closed strongly from rearward to secure third, a further head behind.
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