With less than two weeks before Godolphin’s private training operation winds up, Darren Beadman is savouring every last success, including the win by filly Amusing at Rosehill.
The global conglomerate will proceed under a public model from the new season when its racing stock will be dispersed among a variety of trainers.
Their head conditioner James Cummings has already announced he will be taking up a contract in Hong Kong from the start of the 2026-27 term, while his assistant Beadman is yet to confirm his plans.
However, Beadman was focused only on the task at hand on Saturday and said Amusing’s victory in the Stuart Macdermid Handicap (1500m) would give the entire Godolphin staff a timely boost.
“Great for the team. The time is coming to a close and it will put a spring in everybody’s step,” Beadman said.
Having just her sixth start, Amusing had form behind the likes of Group 3 winner Verona Rose last campaign and Beadman said her first two runs back both had merit despite her finishing out of the placings.
“Her two runs in this time have been tremendous and she has been a little bit unlucky on both occasions. She probably should have finished a lot closer,” he said.
“Alysha (Collett) gave her a beautiful ride, just balanced her up lovely and let her chime into the run.
“She was a little bit flat-footed at the top of the straight but she is by an English Derby winner (Masar) and there is a lot of upside to her and a lot of ceiling left.”
Amusing ($8.50) was strongest late in a tight finish, denying Sister Daae ($4.40 betting fav) by a short head with Mr Verse ($7) another half-head away in third.
Godolphin’s other two runners at Rosehill, Corniche and Kerguelen, both placed in their respective assignments.
Earlier on the program, apprentice Anna Roper was lucky to escape injury when she was dislodged from her mount, Pony Soprano, who clipped heels a few hundred metres after the start of the Highway Handicap (1100m).
Roper was able to walk to the ambulance and later attended a stewards’ inquiry into the incident but was stood down from her remaining rides.
