2025 Queensland Derby: Beau Dazzler a Group 1 prospect
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He is the horse who often gets lapped in trials but can deliver the father and daughter training team of Tony and Maddy Sears their first Group 1 during the Queensland winter carnival.
Beau Dazzler will resume on Saturday in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) which is the first plank of a mission leading to the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
Bookmakers rate him highly, as the $11 third pick in Derby betting, as the family training team looks to score their first Group 1.
There may be even bigger fish to fry later this year, with Tony Sears holding the three-year-old colt in such high esteem as a staying prospect that big goals in the Melbourne spring could yet be contemplated.
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It's just as well though that Beau Dazzler, last seen putting two victories on the bounce in December including a Group 3 event at Eagle Farm, knows the difference between trials and races.
In his official trials in his young career he has been beaten 7.2 lengths, 4.5 lengths, 4.8 lengths, 18.7 lengths and 12 lengths.
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'He has always gone bad in trials, I've seen him get tailed off and be beaten a furlong,' Tony Sears chuckled.
'But I really think he is a good horse and he is a true stayer.
'You don't know, he could end up anywhere in any race over a distance.
'Anything over 2000m is a bonus to him.
'You could possibly see him in the spring carnival.
'It would be terrific to win a Group 1 and it would be unbelievable to win it in partnership with Maddysen.
'It would also be great for connections, all of a sudden they would have a valuable colt.'
Trainers Tony Sears (far right) and Maddy Sears (second from left) after one of Beau Dazzler's wins. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography
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Beau Dazzler has been racing on raw ability for most of his career but the winter carnival will test whether he could be a high calibre stayer.
Team Sears will stick with Queensland jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester for Beau Dazzler's return run in the $350,000 Guineas at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
It is unlikely Beau Dazzler will be fighting out the finish over the 1600m trip – but watch for him late.
'He is pretty fit but I think he will probably just be warming up late in the Guineas,' Sears said.
'He has turned into quite a stayer.
'You probably won't see him at his best until the Derby.'
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Meanwhile, Sears indicated established stable star Yellow Brick would resume in next month's Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m at Doomben) en route to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
The training team would have loved to have deployed Yellow Brick in the Stradbroke in previous years, but his rating of 107 will this year guarantee him a spot in Queensland's most prestigious race.
'He will go second-up into the Stradbroke because most of the time, he performs best second-up,' Sears said.
Yellow Brick is rated a $15 chance in early betting on the Stradbroke.
Apart from Beau Dazzler, one to watch from the Sears' stable at Eagle Farm on Saturday is unbeaten two-year-old colt Yuna Is Pierata.
The young son of Pierata will contest the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) after destroying his opposition on debut at the Ipswich midweeks earlier this month.
Originally published as Potential Group 1 star Beau Dazzler who can be 'beaten a furlong in trials'
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