Gingerbread Man colt Beatty has turned the LR Belgravia Stakes (1200m) into a procession at Ascot and there’s every reason to believe he can continue to dominate during a classic spring prep for owner-breeder Wally Daly.
Racing first-up since an outstanding 2yo campaign, Beatty settled in the back half of the field and was inconvenienced when forced to shift outwards to avoid the heels of a tiring runner on the home turn.
Finding clear air into the straight, he balanced up for stand-in jockey Lucy Fiore and then clicked into overdrive for a stunning victory over Achy Breaky (Rommel) and Godspeed (Playing God). Photo / Western Racepix
Bookmakers reacted firming him into a $2.50 favourite for the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) on November 21. “He’s unreal and we’re really looking forward to this prep,” co-trainer Jake Casey said on Saturday.
“He’s been working super but we’ve had to take him along slowly because he’s a big, strong, gross horse. There’s still plenty of improvement to come and we don’t think a mile will present any problems in the WA Guineas.”
Beatty (3c Gingerbread Man – Femmette by Murtajill) won the Crystal Slipper Stakes (1100m), LR Perth Stakes (1200m) and G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in the autumn and would have remained unbeaten but for blowing the start in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m).
Fiore was standing in for Willie Pike and she labelled Beatty a “machine” after weighing in. “He’s a talent and carrying top-weight of 59kg didn’t seem to make any difference. I also had to check him quite hard on straightening but it didn’t matter,
“He picked them up and put them away and the further he goes the better.”
Wally Daly has been one of Gingerbread Man’s biggest supporters and he welcomed fillies from Winning Pia (Shooting To Win) and There’snonesosassy (Due Sasso) just three days apart in September.
Beatty is one of 10 black-type winners by Yarradale Stud sire Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) and they include 2020 Karrakatta Plate winner Ima Single Man who was also bred and raced by Daly.
Beatty is the fourth winner from Femmette and she has a yearling colt by Gingerbread Man. Second-dam Refemme (Surtee) won a LR WATC Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) and third-dam Guinevere (Agincourt) was a $16,000 buy for Daly and his brother George at the 1997 Inglis Sydney Yearling Sale.
Yarradale stands Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) alongside Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) and they’re both priced at $5,500 (inc GST) this season. For all enquiries contact Davy Hanratty on 0429 336 904.
