BECKHAM SCORES IN CONFIDENT FASHION

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 16, 2016

LED SUPERSCREENS BENCHMARK 85 HANDICAP – 1350m.

WINNER: BECKHAM (5 ch h Pins – Glamour Puss).
Track: Good (3) Time: 1:18.33 Sectional Time: Last 600m: 0:34.32.

Beckham ($8) had hinted of better things to come in his last start when finishing unplaced but less than a length behind the winner (Gotyoucovered) over this track and distance, but the main focus of attention here was on the $2.88 favourite Elegant Composure, the unbeaten runner from the Chris Anderson stable who was looking to score her seventh straight win.

Jeff Lloyd got Beckham away smartly at the break and he matched the speed to his outside to be able to claim the front-running rail position. He got no rest there though with Flamboyer keeping him close company on his outside and with Chariot Of Gold and Dram Of Red snapping at his heels.

Elegant Composure had a good run just in behind that, tracking the leading group.

Beckham held his position to the turn and straightened with a lead of a length. Flamboyer wouldn’t go away though and Elegant Composure now switched around heels and began to move into contention. At the same time the $51 outsider Outraged was making up ground steadily along the inside.

Over the final 150m it became a race in four. Beckham, kicking and saying catch me if you can. Flamboyer, taking up that challenge and fighting hard to the line. Elegant Composure striving with all that she had to offer and Outraged, now flying late, finishing strongest of all.

In the end, Beckham just lasted long enough to thwart the huge effort of Outraged (second), Flamboyer (third) and Elegant Composure (fourth) as less than half a length separated the first four horses across the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER LIAM BIRCHLEY:

“He is a horse with a good cruising speed and if he is allowed to stride in his comfort zone he is very competitive.

“He was genuine today, especially for a stallion. As I say, in the right circumstances he can really pull out plenty.

“These horses keep rolling for Jeff Lloyd. He seems to be all over them like a rag doll but he is very effective.

“I think he fools a few of them. He looks like he’s gone the way he is riding them out but they just keep finding for him, which is the mark of a very good jockey.”

JOCKEY JEFF LLOYD:

“He had a tough run the other day. They were sort of eye-balling him from about the 700, so it was a very good run.

“If he got the run he got today, he could have won then.

“He did work a little bit here to keep out Flamboyer and those horses. He managed to get a little breather from the 800 till about the 500 then the pressure came on ... but he is a tough horse when he is right.

“He is still a colt. He likes things his own way and when he gets that he’ll give you his all. Then he’s tough to beat.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

GLENDARA – Bumped on straightening.

GOTYACOVERED – Raced three wide.

CHARIOT OF GOLD – Raced four wide without cover.

LUCKY LUCRE – Slow to begin.

OUTRAGED – Had some difficulty securing a clear passage in the straight.

DESERT GENERAL – Overraced in the middle stages.

DREAM OF SLIPS – Raced three wide without cover.

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