Beefeater (inner) accounts for Lizzie L'Amour
Trish Dunell
Roydon Bergerson and Opie Bosson have both got a big tick alongside the name of the lightly-tried four-year-old Beefeater.
The Awapuni trainer and the Pukekohe jockey combined with the son of Alamosa to win Saturday's Tonezone 1600 at Matamata and they agreed that the top grade would hold no fears for him.
"I think he's up to black type and we'll probably be looking at the 2000 metre weight-for-age race at Palmerston North," said Bergerson, referring to the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup on April 1.
Raced by his Hunterville breeder Christopher Grace, Beefeater was among the tail-enders in the early stages on Saturday before his rider made an early move.
They looped the field when the pace dropped off markedly down the back straight to take up the running.
"I hoped Opie would press forward then and the next moment he was away," Bergerson said.
"It was a great ride and that's why he's the best in the business."
Beefeater was hotly challenged soon after straightening by Lizzie L'Amour, but he responded strongly to earn the fourth win of his 14-start career with Stylish Attack coming on bravely for third.
"They were crawling up front and from where I was I would have had no chance when they sprinted so I had to go and put some speed into the race," Bosson said.
"He's still very green, but watch out when a set of blinkers go on him." – NZ Racing Desk.
The Awapuni trainer and the Pukekohe jockey combined with the son of Alamosa to win Saturday's Tonezone 1600 at Matamata and they agreed that the top grade would hold no fears for him.
"I think he's up to black type and we'll probably be looking at the 2000 metre weight-for-age race at Palmerston North," said Bergerson, referring to the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup on April 1.
Raced by his Hunterville breeder Christopher Grace, Beefeater was among the tail-enders in the early stages on Saturday before his rider made an early move.
They looped the field when the pace dropped off markedly down the back straight to take up the running.
"I hoped Opie would press forward then and the next moment he was away," Bergerson said.
"It was a great ride and that's why he's the best in the business."
Beefeater was hotly challenged soon after straightening by Lizzie L'Amour, but he responded strongly to earn the fourth win of his 14-start career with Stylish Attack coming on bravely for third.
"They were crawling up front and from where I was I would have had no chance when they sprinted so I had to go and put some speed into the race," Bosson said.
"He's still very green, but watch out when a set of blinkers go on him." – NZ Racing Desk.