Trainer Peter Snowden will give Beaded her chance to regain her best form and will send her around in the Group 1 $400,000 Smirnoff BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Beaded

Beaded is set to run in the BTC Cup - photo © Taron Clarke

Snowden waited until after trackwork this morning to confirm that the six year old would be going to Brisbane and get her chance to defend her crown in the Group 1 $650,000 Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 26.

Beaded had been struggling to race up to her best of late and Snowden was in two minds as to keep the Lonhro mare racing or retire her.

“We had a little doubt in our mind that she may have had enough racing,” Snowden said.

“Her last two starts down the straight at Flemington and at Moonee Valley was probably a bit below what we expect from her.”

But Snowden was more then happy with the way Beaded went through her paces this morning and will send her north to take on the Robert Heathcote trained Buffering who is likely to start a very short priced favourite in the BTC Cup.

“She did a nice piece of work this morning and I thought she worked exceptionally well so were quite keen to take her up on Saturday,” he said.

Beaded hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since taking out last year’s Doomben 10,000 and her form tapered away after finishing second at her first run back from a spell over the Sydney Autumn Carnival to Steps In Time in the Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Classic (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 18.

Since then the six year old mare finished midfield when eleventh to Hay List in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10 and fifth of eight behind Foxwedge in the Group 1 $400,000 Power Tracker William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 23.

If Snowden is happy with the Winter form of Beaded, he will push onto the Group 1 $1m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9 after the Doomben 10,000 and possibly line her up for the final time in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 23.

Beaded is the winner of over $1.5m from ten wins and twelve placings from twenty-five starts.

Stable mate Pinwheel will miss the BTC Cup and Snowden will saddle up the six year old gelding in the Doomben 10,000 over the slightly longer journey.

“Pinwheel is looking for 1350m,” Snowden said.

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.