BEAU DAZZLER CLAIMS THE GROUP 3 GRAND PRIX STAKES

By Graham Potter | Saturday, December 14, 2024

The Tony and Maddysen Sears trained Beau Dazzler took out the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes with some aplomb at Eagle Farm on December 14.

The 1800m event was contested on heavy going meaning that apart from claiming victory, the result underlined Beau Dazzler’s staying prowess as, in reality, the conditions, turned the 1800m into more like a 2000m test … which Beau Dazzler could not have passed in a more emphatic fashion when claiming the second win of his career.

Interestingly enough, this win came a year after Beau Dazzler won the Listed Phelan Ready at the same track back on December 9, 2023. That win, in only his second career start, highlighted the potential the Sears trained runner was showing right at the start of his career, and his co-trainers have always held him in high regard since then.

In-between his two wins, amongst other results, Beau Dazzler finished seventh in the Karaka Millions in New Zealand behind Velocious … who won the Group 1 Sistema at her next start to make it four wins in five outings … finished fourth in the Listed Phoenix and fifth in the Group 1 JJ Atkins behind Broadsiding … who would go on to win the Golden Rose next time out before finishing fourth in the Caulfield Guineas and third in the Group 1 Cox Plate, behind Via Sistina.

So, Beau Dazzler’s potential had been tested, and while there was still nothing to add in the win column during this time, there was also little to dent any enthusiasm about Beau Dazzler’s prospects, as he came out of these battles with his reputation largely intact.

Beau Dazzler arguably just needed time to mature … and a step up in distance, and he was given that measured pathway by the Sears training team in his latest preparation, racing over 1400m first-up, 1630m second-up before taking on the 1800m of the Grand Prix Stakes.

Jag Guthmann-Chester, one of Brisbane’s top riders, even if he is not always readily recognised in those terms, retained the ride in the Grand Prix, after taking the reins on Beau Dazzler for the first time in his previous outing, and he produced a no-nonsense ride which helped carry the three-year-old son of Ardrossan to a clearcut win by a margin of a little under three lengths.

From the number one barrier draw, Guthmann-Chester settled Beau Dazzler ($8.50) back in fourth place, four lengths off the leader in the early part.

When Apuntar ($5) started to stretch the field out in earnest going down the back stretch, Beau Dazzler went back to sixth place, now travelling some seven lengths off the leader as the field began the sweep to the home turn.

At the home turn itself, Beau Dazzler was still sixth but only four lengths back with Guthmann-Chester now having switched the Sears trained runner three to four wide on straightening.

Initially Beau Dazzler’s task was to take a gap in-between two runners early in the straight. Having done that, he seriously set about chasing down the still free-running Apuntar who was still four lengths in advance of Beau Dazzler.

Beau Dazzler slowly began to warm to the task. For a while it seemed to be a bit of a slog but, inside the final 200m, Beau Dazzler kicked it up a gear to the extent that he was able to turn a three length deficit to Apuntar at the 200m mark into a half-a-length lead going through the 100m … and, once in front, Beau Dazzler extended his lead to win as he liked from the outsiders Son Worshipper ($18) and Madame Lexis ($41) who ran on well enough late without ever posing a threat to the winner.

Beau Dazzler race record from only eleven starts boasts a Listed race win at two, a Group 3 win at three and $376 702 banked in prize-money.

More articles