The final classic trial for the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) was nothing more than a walk in the park for Beatty in the LR Fairetha Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
Beatty (3c Gingerbread Man – Femmette by Murtajill) went out a $1.50 favourite in Saturday’s dress rehearsal after his chief rival Roger (All Too Hard) got loose in the prelims and was a late scratching.
Unfazed by the delay, Beatty settled in the box-seat in the small field before letting down for Lucy Fiore to score by more than two lengths from Consignment (Playing God). There were no excuses for the beaten division and co-trainer Jake Casey said it was good to see him relax in the run.
“He can be a handful and he wanted to get on the bridle first-up in the (LR) Belgravia Stakes. He’s still a colt and likes to throw his weight around so we’ve really thrown the work back at him in the last two weeks.”
Beatty (Photo / Western Racepix) is a homebred for Wally Daly and has now earned $710,000 from 6 wins in 7 starts. His only loss was an unlucky second to Afireofgidgeecoals (Too Darn Hot) in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m).
Yarradale Stud resident Gingerbread Man sired him from Femmette and she has also thrown the winners Camera Action (Shooting To Win), Marzipan Lad (Frosted) and Peter Gunn (Shooting To Win). She has a yearling colt by Gingerbread Man and a colt on the ground by Rommel.
The G2 WA Guineas (1600m) carries prizemoney of $500,000 and is scheduled for November 21 at Ascot. Beatty currently leads the market at $2 ahead of Profit Motive ($6), Roger ($6) and Treasured Legacy ($11).
Gingerbread Man was also on the mark with I Love Ya Money in the $80,000 Apprentices Cup (2200m) earlier on Saturday. He hasn’t been out of a place since the start of the Ascot season and has backed up on a seven-day turnaround four weeks in a row for trainer Mitch Pateman.
I Love Ya Money (4g Gingerbread Man – Valentine’s Reward by Reward For Effort) is raced by Justin Warwick and has built a strike-rate of 4 wins from 12 starts for earnings of $310,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $126,000.
Gold Front Thoroughbreds bred and sold him for $40,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. His dam’s older half-brothers included the LR VRC Aurie’s Star Hcp (1200m) winner Grand Duels (Marechal) and LR Kilmore Cup (1600m) winner Tszyu (Encosta De Lago).
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.
