John Sargent-trained mare Abeautifulred has been set for the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford in January next year, despite being in foal to champion stallion Exceed And Excel.
Sargent is hopeful that Abeautifulred can join stablemate Kirramosa as a black type winner in Australia. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Abeautifulred made her Australian racing debut with a sixth place finish behind Kristy Lee in the Coolmore Australian Handicap (1150m) at the Randwick Kensington track on November 23 and will return to the races in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm this afternoon.
The Handsome Ransom mare will be able to continue racing until she reaches the 120th day of her pregnancy and Sargent is hopeful that she will be able to record a maiden victory in Australia this afternoon and pick up some valuable black type in the Belle Of The Turf Stakes on January 9 next year before beginning a full time career as a broodmare.
“She came over here to get in foal so the owners thought they would see if they could get some black type in Australia while she’s here,” Sargent told AAP.
“She’s going to have this run and another and then be aimed for the Belle of the Turf Stakes at Gosford.”
Abeautifulred started the Coolmore Australian Handicap as an outsider in the field but was desperately unlucky not to finish closer to the leader after being blocked for a run in the straight and held up badly with 150 metres left to run.
Sargent said that he was happy with the five-year-olds first-up performance, indicating that she has taken plenty of benefit out of the run, and is confident that she is a definite winning chance at Warwick Farm this afternoon.
“It was a nice run first-up and she’s improved and although the best of her will be seen when she gets to a mile, I’m confident she should be running a big race tomorrow,” Sargent said.
Abeautifulred, who has not recorded a race win since she took out The Gucci Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie in March last year, is part-owned by the Wellfield Lodge syndicate who also race Crown Oaks winner Kirramosa.
Kirramosa returned to Sargent’s stable yesterday and will begin a slow build to the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday April 19 as part of The Championships.
