Her racing days are almost over but trainer Peter Snowden sees no reason why grand mare Beaded should not be given a chance at history in the Group One Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.
Beaded, winner of last year’s Doomben 10,000, is a $10 chance with TAB Sportsbet behind $4 favourite Sea Siren, to make it back-to-back wins in the 1350-metre weight-for-age feature.
If she starts, the daughter of Lonhro will be attempting to equal Black Onyx (1969-70), Prince Trialia (1990-91), Falvelon (2001-02) and Apache Cat (2008-09) as the only horses to win successive Doomben 10,000’s since the race was first run in 1933.
Beaded was spared immediate retirement following two unplaced runs at Group One level in the Newmarket Handicap and William Reid Stakes in Melbourne during the autumn when the rising seven-year-old showed some of her old spark in her recent Sydney trackwork.
Snowden then sent her to Queensland for the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben 10 days ago and she didn’t let her supporters down with a creditable third to the John O’Shea-trained Sea Siren.
“I can’t see any reason why she shouldn’t be running in the 10,000,” Snowden said.
“It’s four weeks away to the Tatt’s Tiara which is her last run (before retiring) and it’s just a matter of finding the right race for her.”
Snowden feels there’s been significant improvement in Beaded since her BTC Cup performance.
“I thought her run (in the BTC Cup) was okay. It was much better than her two runs in Melbourne and she’s taken improvement since,” he said.
“Her coat is good and her work this morning was sharp.”
Snowden also will pay up with stablemate Pinwheel for the Doomben 10,000 which will be missing Torio’s Quest, Neeson and Wealth Princess.
“Pinwheel is going fine and he’ll leave Sydney on Wednesday night,” Snowden said.
“I’m really happy with his progress.”
Pinwheel booked a trip north with a fast-finishing second to Tiger Tees in the Listed Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last month.
Tiger Tees franked the form winning the Group Three BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Torio’s Quest, winner of last year’s Group Two Queensland Guineas, showed a glimpse of his best form when second at Scone last Saturday.
He is being reserved for the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, a week before his main mission in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 9.
Trainer Joe Pride also believes the QTC Cup is a better Stradbroke lead-up for Neeson while trainer Darren Weir favours running Wealth Princess in the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) on June 2 ahead of the mare’s Stradbroke mission.
