Trainer David Greene has revealed that he is delighted with the condition of talented gelding Beauty’s Beast ahead of the 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas at the standalone Hawkesbury meeting this weekend.
Beauty's Beast is chasing his second win in Australia in the 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Beauty’s Beast made his Australian racing debut with an impressive victory over Woodbine and Engagement in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 19 and Greene told Sky Racing HQ that the son of Guillotine had trained on well following the strong win.
“I couldn’t be happier with him and he is ticking all the boxes at this stage,” Greene said.
“He did a nice piece of work on Tuesday and it was a bit of a replica of what he did on Saturday with Jimmy on board.
“It is hard to fault the horse.
“We are conscious of the history that Kiwi horses don’t have the best record second-up off the plane, but there is no indication from his work and around the stable that he has slackened off.”
Beauty’s Beast will jump from the tricky barrier ten in the 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas on Saturday, but Green does not believe that the gate will be a problem for the three-year-old.
Jimmy Cassidy has been booked to take the ride, taking over from Hugh Bowman who left Australia for a stint in Hong Kong at the start of the week, and Greene said that there are plenty of ways that he can ride Beauty’s Beast in the Group 3 event.
“He is a very difficult horse to plan against because he has such a good cruising speed that he can go forward and get into a grind and maybe out grind something in the front, but in the same instance if you leave him sit there and stack them up his turn-of-foot is good enough to leave them at the top of the straight as well,” Greene said.
“He is a very versatile galloper.”
Greene revealed that Beauty’s Beast was only meant to have the one race start in Australia but after the impressive nature of his win in the South Pacific Classic, connections opted to give the gelding another race start in Australia.
The Hamilton-based trainer said that he is yet to decide where Beauty’s Beast will have his next race start, but confirmed that the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival is on the agenda.
“If he is able to replicate that form again on Saturday I guess that the riches up there are too great to completely rule out,” Greene said.
Beauty’s Beast ($4.50) is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 Hawkesbury Guineas betting markets from Chautauqua ($4.60), Northern Glory ($6) and Katie’s Cover ($8).
