Group 1 winner Beaten Up moved one step closer to a return to racing with an impressive performance in a barrier trial over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens this morning.
Beaten Up has not been seen at the races since he finished second in the 2013 edition of the Chelmsford Stakes. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Beaten Up contested the fifth heat of the morning in his first public appearance since he suffered a tendon strain during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and he was settled towards the tail of the field by jockey Hugh Bowman in the early stages of the trial.
The Beat Hollow gelding was kept under a heavy hold by Bowman throughout the trial, but he was still able to make up plenty of ground in the final stages and ran through the line extremely strongly.
Beaten Up made his racing debut under the care of William Haggas in the United Kingdom and he took out the Group 3 Champion Shield Stakes (2418m) in just his third race start before he was sent to Australia to join the Waller stable after he finished third in the Garbutt & Elliot Conditions Stakes (2092m) at York on October 12.
The talented gelding started his Australian racing career with a ninth place finish in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and he was unlucky in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1600m) at Royal Randwick a fortnight later.
Beaten Up was narrowly denied a maiden race win in Australia by Mouro in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury, but recorded the biggest win of his racing career to dare two weeks later when he upset Foreteller to win the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane.
The imported galloper was touted as a leading contender for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and he started his preparation with solid efforts in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm and the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick, but he suffered a tendon strain in the lead-up to the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) and has not been seen at the races since.
Beaten Up will likely have at least one more race start before trainer Chris Waller considers sending him back to the races ahead of the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Distorted Demand was the standout performer at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials this morning, winning the sixth heat by nine lengths, whiles the likes of Premier’s Cup winner Greatwood, Gai Waterhouse-trained Funloving and unraced two-year-old Always Allison also produced eye-catching efforts.
