Tony and Maddison Sears eye Queensland Derby with impressive Grand Prix Stakes winner Beau Dazzler

Beau Dazzler relished the step up in distance to underline his Queensland Derby potential with a dominant win in the Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Beau Dazzler will target the Queensland Derby next year after winning the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Tony Sears believes he and daughter Maddy have unearthed a genuine 2025 Group 1 Queensland Derby contender as Beau Dazzler conjured an eye-catching romp in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Sears has long told anyone who will listen that Beau Dazzler is a proper horse in the making and the colt would excel once he got over more distance.

Twelve months ago, Beau Dazzler became a stakes winner at just his second start when scoring the Listed Phelan Ready over the 1000m sprint trip at Eagle Farm.

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But there were those who questioned the form going forward, considering Beau Dazzler only beat a tiny field of three rivals that day.

During the Queensland winter carnival, Beau Dazzler didn’t win a race but did finish fifth behind star Godolphin youngster Broadsiding in the Group 1 JJ Atkins over 1600m.

Three-year-old Beau Dazzler stepped up to 1800m for the first time on Saturday and he relished it, with jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester landing a career highlight when he picked his way through the field on a Heavy 10 track.

Tony Sears, who trains with daughter Maddy, is already licking his lips over the prospect of racing Beau Dazzler over the 2400m Group 1 Derby trip during next year’s winter carnival.

Beau Dazzler motors away in the G3 Grand Prix for a big win!@MS_SearsRacing | @SearsMaddy | @ChesterJag | @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/2Uvf978M1q

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024

“We have always thought he would be a Queensland Derby horse,” Sears said.

“I said to the Jag the other day to stick with him and once he got to 1800 (m) and beyond, he would just be winning.

“I was so confident he could win today.

“I did have some qualms about the (heavy) track today but I said to the jockey, whatever you do, just get off the fence.

“I thought if he could get out wide, he would be winning, because he would be strong at the end.

“We will look at the (2025) Derby now and work backwards from that.”

Beau Dazzler started $8.50 but never looked in doubt in the finishing stages, scoring by almost three lengths.

Sears always knew that whatever Beau Dazzler did in his two-year-old season was just the tip of the iceberg compared to what lay ahead.

Trainers Tony Sears (far right) and Maddy Sears (second from left) celebrate the win of Beau Dazzler at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“Everything he did as a two-year-old was just a bonus,” Sears said.

“He won a 1000m stakes race as a two-year-old, he should never have been winning that sort of race over only 1000m.

“This horse is the worst track worker you would ever seen, he does nothing.

“We never work him with a mate, we work him by himself all the time.

Guthmann-Chester initially thought barrier one was ideal for Beau Dazzler but conceded he was concerned when it poured with rain and the Eagle Farm track became a bog.

“When acceptances came out, I thought barrier one was beautiful,” he said.

“But the way the track has been playing today, barrier one wasn’t the place to be.

“At the half mile I just had to bide my time, I was able to get a good run through the middle and he was dominant late.”

Originally published as Tony and Maddison Sears eye Queensland Derby with impressive Grand Prix Stakes winner Beau Dazzler