Trish Dunell
A notable on pace bias that was evident throughout the day at Ruakaka played nicely into the hands of free-going three-year-old Beyond Dispute who gave a polished display in front to score against the older horses on the weekend.
A winner over eight hundred metres as a two-year-old in similar fashion, Beyond Dispute was having his second run in this campaign after finishing a well beaten sixth behind Prom Queen a fortnight earlier. Trainer Steven Cole was convinced the Not A Single Doubt colt was a far better proposition when allowed to freewheel in front after he had raced erratically when restrained in his season opener.
“He ran around a bit and was a little disappointing first up so we decided to put him front if we could and let him do his own thing,” he explained.
“When I saw how it was playing for the front-runners on the day I was confident he could go a good race if things went our way.
“Alysha (Collett) rated him nicely and he did a good job as it is hard for the three-year-olds against the older horses at this time of the year.”
Despite the strength of the victory Cole will adopt a patient approach with his charge as he plots a path over the next few weeks.
“I don’t think he will get a mile at this stage of his development so he’s not a contender for the 2000 Guineas later on,” he said.
“We might go to Hastings for a rating 75 1400m on the last day there or keep him for a race at Ellerslie before that and then decide what we do with him after that.”
While Cole doesn’t have three-year-old classic plans for Beyond Dispute he still harbours those aspirations for Ohceedee who finished an encouraging second earlier in the day.
“We had thought he could win and break his maiden status but he just did a few small things wrong which cost him in the end,” he noted.
“He wobbled around the final bend and got on the wrong leg but finished off nicely so we will press ahead to the Hawkes Bay Guineas if we can get a start with him.
“If he doesn’t make the Guineas field then there is a special conditions race that will suit on the same day.
“He is getting better at each start so we still hope to get to the 2000 Guineas with him but that will be reassessed once we see what he does at Hastings.” – NZ Racing Desk