Beaumarchais black-type bound this campaign
BEAUMARCHAIS has been earmarked for stakes events as the Richards Autridge training pair begin to ramp up the four-year-old’s resumption plans.
The son of Savabeel beat the older horses twice last season before recording a stylish fourth in the Group One New Zealand Derby behind his star stablemate Gingernuts.
Beaumarchais then closed out its preparation with a runner-up finish in the Group Three Manawatu Classic at Awapuni, and co-trainer Jamie Richards said the horse was desperately unlucky not to take the group race out.
“He was a bit stiff there when he got back to last and charged late at Charles Road,” Richards said.
Beaumarchais has twice trialled at Te Teko in preparation for his return to racing.
“We’re going to take him to Ruakaka for a Rating 85 over 1400m on Wednesday to kick him off,” Richards said.
Beaumarchais has been nominated for the Group Three Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton, but nothing has been set in stone as yet.
“He’s got time for two runs and he would have to be pretty impressive to warrant going down there, we’ll see how he goes,” Richards said.
“We might be better off waiting for a race like the Thorndon Mile at Trentham. There’s a good race in the horse somewhere.”
Stablemate Fashionably, which also stretched its legs at the Te Teko trials, is another four-year-old closing in on a return after showing promise last term.
A daughter of Redoute’s Choice and the dual group one winner Scarlett Lady, she was a winner and ran fifth behind Bonneval in both the Group One New Zealand Oaks and the Group Three Lowland Stakes.
“She’s going very well and she’s a lovely mare,” Richards said.
“We might give her another trial before we look for a suitable race for her. She’s really strengthened up.”