Trainer Henry Dwyer has been thrilled with the condition of Beirut, and is confident the classy mare can cap her competitive career with a win in Saturday’s Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville Racecourse.
Beirut is a strong chance of success in Saturday’s Group 3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Beirut has undoubtedly found career-best form since transferring to the care of Dwyer at the conclusion of her 2015 campaign and will be seeking her fifth-consecutive win and first at black type level when she lines up for the Spring Stakes 2016.
Dwyer confirmed that the Lonhro mare will retire into a career as a broodmare following Saturday’s South Australia feature, and told Racing Ahead he is confident she will perform to a typically-high standard from barrier 5.
“She’ll head over to Adelaide. We won’t scratch her from Flemington just yet, just in case there’s some reason she doesn’t get over there or any issue like that,” Dwyer said.
“She’s done a good job obviously and I think the Adelaide race looks a bit more suitable for her.
“It just looks nothing more than a stock standard Adelaide open class sprint. You’ve got those horses going around reasonably regularly.
“I think Tashbeeh is a bit above that but might be running in the Aurie’s Star anyway, and obviously Sooboog may or may not go over there.
“She’s proven herself up to that sort of level and maybe a little bit above tat, hence the go at black type.
“If she gets favours as she has at her previous two starts and there’s no reason why she won’t on Saturday in front, and she’d be a little chance there.
“She’s been in work a long, long time now. We’ve had her going since January or February but she only came good probably a couple of months after that and we’ve been careful not to race her hard.
“All we need is one more for her to work again and then she’s off to stud.”
Beirut has posted a career total of seven wins and eight minors through twenty-nine starts, since debuting for Lyn Tolson in the spring of 2013.
Requiring a couple of runs to find form upon resuming this year, the six-year-old returned to winning form in the Le Pine Funerals BM70 (1200m) on May 11th and has since posted wins in each of the Night Racing Finale BM70 (1200m), The Cove Hotel BM70 (1200m) and the Mypunter.com Handicap (1200m).
Beirut is currently tied on the top line of 2016 Spring Stakes betting markets alongside Sooboog, at a quote of $4.80 with Ladbrokes Australia.
