Sydney Way Of Going To Suit Beauty’s Beast

Trainer Danny O’Brien is hoping that a return to the Sydney way of going and a potentially soft track will help Beauty’s Beast return to winning form in The HQ Of Insurance Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Beauty's Beast was most impressive when he made his Australian racing debut in the South Pacific Classic. Photo by: Steve Hart

Beauty’s Beast was most impressive when he made his Australian racing debut in the South Pacific Classic. Photo by: Steve Hart

Beauty’s Beast made his Australian racing debut with an impressive win in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Royal Randwick during The Championships, but has been unable to replicate that form since joining the O’Brien stable.

The Guillotine gelding resumed with a fifth place finish in the I&D Group Plate (1300m) at Sandown on September 27 and finished a disappointing fourth in the Subzero Challenge (1400m) at Caulfield on October 15.

Beauty’s Beast was found with respiratory issues after she finished fourth in the APIA Celebrating Greys Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day and Eureka Concrete Handicap (1400m) at Ballarat on November 22.

O’Brien said that he has been relatively pleased with the performances of Beauty’s Beast this preparation, but he is desperately hoping that the four-year-old can return to winning form at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.

“All his best form in New Zealand and his win in Australia at Randwick were right-handed and we are heading him up to Sydney there to try and get him back on that leg,” O’Brien told Racing Ahead.

“He has got another positive up there in that he is a handy soft track horse and it looks like they are going to have a soft track up there.

“He has been even during the spring without winning and we are just trying to get a couple more things in his favor.

“Hopefully the right-handed going and the soft going can help him get back on the winners list.

“He will be going forward and he is an on-pace horse.”

The HQ Of Insurance Handicap is dominated by leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller and he has Hoylonny, Index Linked, Black Jag, You’ll Never, Amovatio and Pythagorean in the $85,000 race, while the field is rounded out by Kaypers and Taxmeifyoucan.

You’ll Never ($3.50) is currently favourite from Amovatio ($3.90), Pythagorean ($5), Beauty’s Beast ($6) and Kaypers ($9) in The HQ Of Insurance Handicap betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.