Danny Beasley has wound back the clock to land a winning double at Randwick, highlighted by his plundering of the Listed Civic Stakes aboard the Kris Lees-trained Ucalledit.
One of Sydney’s leading jockeys during the early and mid-2000s, Beasley won some of Australia’s biggest races including the 2003 Golden Slipper on Polar Success, but he was arguably best known for his association with Grand Armee who he guided to six majors.
In 2007, Beasley left for Singapore where he rode for close to 15 years, save for a brief stint back in Australia in 2015 when he booted home his last black-type winner, Divertire in the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone.
Moving back to his hometown of Wagga late last year, the 48-year-old has been making the most of his recent opportunities in Sydney, especially on Saturday when he landed an early Highway Handicap (1400m) win on Salute Again then captured the feature Civic Stakes (1400m) on Ucalledit.
With six rides at Narrandera on Sunday there will be little time for celebration, but Beasley is as excited to head to the country meeting as he is to come to town.
“I’m just really loving what I’m doing and I think that’s shining in my riding,” Beasley said.
“I don’t go out there with any pressure, I just go out there and enjoy it.
“I’m at Narrandera tomorrow but that’s the beauty of what I’m doing.
“I come here and can compete on this magnificent track, which brings me so many memories, but then I’m going there tomorrow and I still get a buzz riding a winner.
“Coming back to Australia was all about giving a bit back and I’m so thankful.”
Beasley was able to get the best out of Ucalledit, who had been racing largely without luck in three campaign runs.
Lees said he felt pre-race that the horse was going well despite his form and Ucalledit ($9) vindicated that opinion, pouncing on the leaders to score by a half-length over King Of Hastings ($9) with Cisco Bay ($7.50) another long head away third.
“His runs have been better than it looks,” Lees said.
“From the soft gate today, he got a lovely ride from Danny stalking the speed, then he let down well.
“Danny rode a lot for me, and he rode a lot for (Lees’ late father Max) too.
“Who would have thought he would be back here riding winners at Randwick.”
Lees is likely to target next month’s Grafton carnival with Ucalledit, although whether he comes back in trip for the Ramornie Handicap (1200m) or extends to a mile in the South Grafton Cup (1600m) is yet to be decided.
Ucalledit gave Lees a two-state feature double after Luncies took out the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm.