Trainer Peter Moody appears to have another smart sprinter on his hands after three-year-old colt Beckon comprehensively won Saturday’s Berry Fitness Handicap at Mornington.
After romping home by six lengths on debut at Echuca last start, Beckon demonstrated that win was no fluke by dismantling older and more experienced rivals with consummate ease in the $30,000 1207m event.
Ridden to victory once again by Luke Currie, Beckon began slowly but was able to quickly muster speed and find the front in the small six-horse field.
Currie allowed Beckon ($1.50 to$1.35 fav) to reel off some steady sectionals through the middle stages before accelerating to put the outcome of the race beyond doubt, defeating multiple city winner Adaptor ($6.50) by 2-3/4 lengths.
“It was a big step up in grade today from his previous start and I’m just happy to see him win,” Moody’s stable foreman Tom Brideoake said.
“I thought it was a very impressive win. After being slow away he went to the lead under his own steam and showed a really nice turn of foot at the end.”
Currie said Beckon had exited the gates tardily at both his starts and was still learning how to be a racehorse.
“Once he got to the front he did it nice and easy and won well,” Currie said.
“I wanted to look after him but by the same token you’ve still got to teach them how to hit the line.
“So I gave him a couple of backhanders and made sure he picked up over the concluding stages.
“He is a handy horse and Peter (Moody) is picking out the right races for him at the moment. He is only going to improve.”
Brideoake said the stable was keen to allow the colt to work through his grades and had made no firm decision on what races he would contest over the spring carnival.
By Charge Forward out of stakes-placed Flying Spur mare Chatelaine, Beckon is a half-brother to Group One winner Headway and was purchased for $500,000 from the 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
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