Last year’s Doomben 10,000 winner Beaded is to be given the chance to become the oldest mare to win the Group One BTC Cup since it became a weight-for-age race.
Trainer Peter Snowden refused to confirm a Brisbane winter campaign for Beaded until after the six-year-old worked at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
Snowden held off making a decision for Beaded to head north after fearing she had her mind on the breeding barn following two uncharacteristic performances in Melbourne during the autumn.
The daughter of Lonhro had done a remarkable job winning 10 of her 25 races with prizemoney totalling more than $1.5 million but her autumn form was well below her usual standard.
Beaded missed earning prizemoney for only the second time in her career when 11th to Hay List in the Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington before finishing fifth to Foxwedge in the Group One William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March.
“Her last two runs were below what Beaded normally does,” Snowden said.
“I wanted to see her work this morning to see if she was back and I was happy with her work.
“At this stage she’ll be going to Brisbane. She pulled up well after her gallop.”
No six-year-old mare has won the BTC Cup since the 1200-metre sprint became a weight-for-age race in 1991.
Queensland’s Seawinne in 1995 and New Zealander mare Gee I Jane (2006) were five-year-olds when they became the oldest of their sex to win the feature.
Snowden has warned Beaded’s performance in the BTC Cup will determine if she attempts to defend her crown in the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 26.
“She’s an older mare now and she owes us nothing,” Snowden said.
“It won’t be because of her fitness if she’s beaten on Saturday.
“It’s a matter of whether she’s still got the zest for racing.”
Snowden is hoping a recent freshen-up will help Beaded rediscover her best form.
“I’ve given her a freshen up and she had an easy trial a couple of weeks ago and has been on the water walker,” he said.
Beaded holds down the third line of BTC Cup betting at $9 behind Queenslander Buffering at $2.40.
The Rob Heathcote-trained Buffering’s odds shortened following his seven-length win in a rescheduled weight-for-age race at Eagle Farm last week.
Heathcote also will start Group One Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim after the grey worked impressively with Buffering at Eagle Farm.
“I was very happy with Woorim’s work this morning. He worked over 1000 metres with Buffering and they both worked strongly,” he said.
“Buffering will be very hard to beat but Woorim will be flying home.”
