Class Waikato galloper Beauden is being set some lofty Melbourne targets this spring.
The multiple stakes winner appeared in public for the first time this preparation for an exhibition gallop between races at Te Rapa last Saturday, a gallop which left his trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson very satisfied.
“He galloped well within himself, but he ran home a little bit quicker than they ran the open mile in,” Graeme Rogerson said.
“He’s going enormous. We’ll let him get ready, and hopefully we end up in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. We just hope the coronavirus problems lift so we can go to Aussie with him.”
The rising seven-year-old, who was born and raised at Trelawney Stud for owner/breeder Joan Egan, has raced consistently for Team Rogerson at the elite level in recent seasons but he hasn’t been asked to tackle trips beyond 2000m too often.
However, Rogerson believes the gelding should at least get the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup, run on October 16, and he was hopeful about the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup.
“You never know if they’re going to get two miles until you try, but I think he’s a horse that’s maturing with age. He looks outstanding at the moment,” said Rogerson, who prepared the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient.
“But he’s only had two runs at 2200m, and he won them both.”
Both those victories came in the two most recent runnings of the Listed Marton Cup at Awapuni, races he won decisively both times.
Rogerson said Beauden could trial at Ellerslie next Tuesday and then begin his campaign with an open 1600m race at Te Rapa on August 14.
All going well he will then head to his favourite track, Awapuni – where he’s had 10 races for eight victories and one second – to contest an open 2100m handicap.
“There’s a lot of water that’s got to pass under the bridge, but he will be nominated for the cups,” he said. -NZ Racing Desk