Latest news with #BeauDazzler

News.com.au
30-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
One-time Queensland Derby fancy Beau Dazzler can rebound from second-up syndrome
Maddy Sears feels Queensland Derby contender Beau Dazzler may have fallen victim to 'second-up syndrome' last start, but says he will be back to his best for the big Group 1 dance on Saturday. Beau Dazzler has long been one of the main fancies for the Queensland Derby but his odds have now ballooned to $26 after being beaten more than five lengths in the traditional lead-up of the Rough Habit Plate (2000m). It was in stark contrast to how he returned in brilliant fashion when sizzling home for third over the unsuitable 1600m distance in the Queensland Guineas. 'We half expected him to run a bit like that second-up in the Rough Habit, a bit of second-up syndrome,' Sears, who trains with her dad Tony, said. 'He probably raced a bit fresh when he pinged the lids that day. 'He was also closer to the leaders in the run than what we anticipated. 'I don't think the 2400m of the Derby will be a problem for him at all. 'We want to come out quite neutral on him, we don't want him too handy and we want it to be a genuine tempo.' Maddy and dad Tony hail from Toowoomba but Maddy has been training on the Gold Coast for several months. The day after the Derby, Tony will move to the Gold Coast. They duo will still retain a stable in Toowoomba but the operation will be based out of the coast. It is an exciting new era for family training team and it will be even more exciting if they can kick it off with a maiden Group 1 triumph at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'It doesn't get any better than that, a maiden Group 1,' Maddy Sears said. 'It would be the first one for me and the first one for Dad, it would be huge. 'It would also be (jockey) Jag's (Guthmann-Chester) first Group 1, so there would be quite some scenes. 'Dad and I work very well together and I am looking forward to Dad moving down to live on the Gold Coast.'

News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester says he'll be ‘blown away' if he can win this month's Group 1 Queensland Derby
Brisbane jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester reckons he'll be 'blown away' if he can win this month's Group 1 Queensland Derby aboard local star Beau Dazzler. The 26-year-old will ride the Tony and Maddy Sears -trained colt in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday and if all goes well, he is expected to retain the ride for the $1m Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. It would be the first Group 1 ride for the laid-back Guthmann-Chester, who said he had matured enormously over the past two years and was ready to 'have a crack' after ditching distractions outside of racing. 'If I can win the Derby it would not only be a career highlight, it'd knock me off my feet because I wouldn't have thought I'd have a live Group 1 chance 12 months ago,' he said. 'It'd mean everything. I think I'd be pretty blown away if I did get the result. 'It probably wouldn't sink in for a while because if you asked me two years whether I'd ever win a Group 1, I would've said 'never'. 'Twelve months ago if you said 'you'd have a live chance in a Derby' I'd say 'you're kidding yourself'. 'To be in this position, it's surreal and I just really hope the horse runs well and we get the result we're looking for.' Beau Dazzler is a class above as he makes it two in-a-row! 🌟 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024 Guthmann-Chester rode 200-1 shot Artful Girl in last Saturday's Group 2 $500,000 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and finished eighth, ahead of Chris Waller 's star pair Lindermann and race favourite Buckaroo. It was his only ride on the day but in less than three weeks, he is likely to be competing in a Group 1 on a three-year-old colt with a genuine chance in the Queensland Derby. 'That's the game. Twelve months ago I was riding around the provincial circuit,' said Guthmann-Chester, who enjoys a bit of boxing to help keep fit. 'I had a career-best season but I was only going around the provincial circuit and I was quite content doing that. 'As I've gotten older I've matured a bit and dedicated myself a bit more and I want to actually have a crack, which is why I've based myself in town. 'I know the opportunities come harder now that I'm in town, especially during carnival time.' Beau Dazzler, who flew home to finish third in this month's $350,000 Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm, is currently a $13 chance in the Derby. The only stayers ahead of him in the betting are equal-$7 favourites Belle Detelle, Firm Agreement and King Of Thunder and Statuario ($11). 'He'll be flying the flag for the Queenslanders so I'm sure everyone will be cheering for him,' Guthmann-Chester said. 'I've never ridden a horse who conserves so much energy in a race. I've never had a horse who relaxes as much as he does. 'Within his action he really just puts himself to sleep and is super comfortable. 'I've got no issue that he'll run a strong 2400m and the exciting part is he doesn't mind a wet or dry track.' Guthmann-Chester said if given the opportunity, he would treat the Derby as just another race on Beau Dazzler, who was notorious for performing horribly in his trials. 'Take away the Group 1 status and prizemoney, it's exactly what we do every week so you've just got to do your job,' he said. 'I think I really thrive under pressure. I don't get a lot of opportunities in the bigger races but every time I've rode in those bigger races I seem to give my horse every chance. 'I'd be happy if I could just get one Group 1 winner in my career but hopefully it does open up a few more doors.'

News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Noel Callow seizes second chance from Annabel Archibald with big win on Depth Of Character in Queensland Guineas
After thinking he'd never ride for Annabel Archibald ever again, in-form jockey Noel Callow earned the call-up on for the top Sydney trainer and in a sliding-doors moment, he duly saluted on Depth Of Character in the Group 2 $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. With champion jockey James McDonald serving a suspension and Ryan Maloney unavailable, Callow pounced on the chance to win the Guineas on Depth Of Character ($7.50) ahead of the Nathan Doyle-trained filly Churchill's Choice ($8) and the late-surging roughie Beau Dazzler ($34). Callow, who rode a treble at Eagle Farm last weekend, reflected on that ride for Sydney-based Archibald (nee Neasham) about a year ago. 'It's the second ride (on Saturday) I have ever had for Annabel,' Callow said. 'The first one was a pick-up one one day in a maiden at Sunshine Coast and I absolutely gave it a (no good) ride. 'I picked it up because Brodie Loy couldn't make the weight and I was the only bloke in the jockeys' room who could make the weight. 'I couldn't get out (in the race) and I was desperately unlucky and I thought 'I'll never ride for her again' because I'm not on that merry-go-round. 'I never have been and I just got lucky. I got the same again today. J-Mac was booked to ride the horse. Ryan Maloney's manager took another ride for him because he'd won on him the start before. 'So then J-Mac gets suspended in Hong Kong, (Andrew) Mallyon's got a ride, (Damien) Thornton's got a ride. 'From the top eight, bang, here he is and boom. I showed that I can do it.' Gelding Depth Of Character firmed from $15 into the $8 equal favourite to win the $1m Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on May 31 at Eagle Farm while the Tony and Maddy Sears-trained Beau Dazzler went from $11 to $9. Churchill's Choice dipped from $6 to $4.50 in the Queensland Oaks betting for the $700,000 Group 1 contest over 2200m at Eagle Farm on June 7. Archibald, who got married late last month to co-trainer Rob, said she thought the bookies got it wrong on Depth Of Character. 'I thought he might have been a little shorter in the market,' she said. 'With his Sydney form and two starts back he was behind Evaporate and Swiftfalcon (in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick early last month). 'He was still pretty good in the (Randwick) Guineas as well but not as good as the Broadsidings of the world. 'It was a lovely ride by Noel. He did his research and knew he could get a bit fired up. 'I was a bit worried he was travelling too well but once he peeled him out at the top of the straight it was just a matter of holding him together and pressing the button at the right time. 'We'll see where we go to now. There's no real mile races. It is whether you go up or down (in distance). I'm not sure you go up.' Maddy Sears said Beau Dazzler would next head to the $250,000 Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) in two weeks' time at Doomben. â– â– â– â– â– Floozie on silk road to bigger and better races Trainer Tony Gollan 's exciting mare Floozie will back-up in next Saturday's $160,000 Listed Silk Stocking on the Gold Coast after her dominant victory at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Gollan now has eyes on the 1400m Silk Stocking (fillies and mares) for his rising star Floozie next Saturday on the Glitter Strip on Hollindale Stakes Day. 'I quite like her,' he said about the daughter of Group 1 Blue Diamond winner Catchy. 'Her ratings are not as such yet where it's uncomfortable for her, she's still going through her grades, but the plan was always to try and get her to stakes level races during the winter. 'As soon as we started working with her, she gave me such a good feel. 'Once I put the blinkers on her, which was her race gear, she's a different beast.' Gollan said Floozie's two-length victory in a Benchmark 70 race over 1200m at Eagle Farm two weeks ago 'opened my eyes up that she could be a carnival horse'. 'We just have to get her rating up so we can get into the (bigger) races and hopefully it's the Silk Stocking next week,' he said. Jockey Angela Jones was patient in the straight before unleashing on red-hot favourite Floozie, who firmed from $1.60 to $1.45 in the lead-up to the race, to finish ahead of the Chris and Corey-Munce trained Heroic Miss ($14) and Rob Heathcote's En Pointe ($15). "She's not cheap, she's classy!" ðŸ'‹ Floozie wins again at Eagle Farm for @tonygollan! @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025 'She was dominant and she definitely made it her show out there today,' Jones said. 'It was nice to see. She's such a lovely big mare and it fills you with confidence when you get on her. 'It was just about getting the luck. She's a perfect push-button horse. She does whatever you ask her and when she goes she has a great turn of foot.' Gollan said Floozie reminded him of stablemate, six-year-old mare Comrade Rosa, who will compete in Sunday's $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton. 'It was so sweet for Ange,' Gollan said. 'She finds a spot just off the speed and she has that really good turn of foot that she can stretch out to 1400m and there'll be no problems for her. 'She has come on significantly in a fortnight. She is a big, strong girl and we are nowhere near the bottom of her. 'She is an exciting mare and reminds me a lot of Comrade Rosa a couple of winters ago.' Floozie was trained by Victorians Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr before being transferred to Gollan's stable.

Courier-Mail
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
2025 Queensland Derby: Beau Dazzler a Group 1 prospect
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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. * Ka Ying Rising wins 12 straight, into evens for The Everest '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 * 'Wonderful person, great ambassador': Industry giants pay respect to Greg Sugars 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.' * 'Absolutely brilliant': Jokers Grin has last laugh in The Quokka 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'

News.com.au
28-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Potential Group 1 star Beau Dazzler who can be ‘beaten a furlong in trials'
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. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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. Beau Dazzler motors away in the G3 Grand Prix for a big win! @MS_SearsRacing | @SearsMaddy | @ChesterJag | @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024 '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.' 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.' "I think he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the Qld Derby" Hear from @SearsMaddy and @ChesterJag after Beau Dazzler's dazzling win in the Grand Prix! @MS_SearsRacing | @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024 * 'Absolutely brilliant': Jokers Grin has last laugh in The Quokka 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. Yuna Is Pierata leads from start to finish to win for Tony and Maddy Sears in the Ipswich opener! ðŸ'� @SearsMaddy — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 9, 2025 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.