Beaumont preview: A step up to a staying distance can get Jack Duggan back to winning form

Imported gelding Jack Duggan will relish a drop back in grade and a step up to a suitable distance in his bid to break back into the winner’s circle on the Beaumont track at Newcastle.

Getting back to his ideal distance can see Jack Duggan return to winning form. Picture: Bradley Photos

The Dynamic Syndications team is looking to celebrate Christmas early with a host of leading chances over the next three days.

Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer saddles up two runners on the Beaumont track with imported gelding Jack Duggan leading the charge in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (2000m) with Ashley Morgan to ride.

The grey gelding kicked off his preparation with a solid second to Xtra Approval in the Kempsey Cup before finishing just behind the placegetters in two runs over 1550m at Canterbury, the most recent a fifth to Bat Out Of Hell last Friday night.

He now gets out to his ideal trip and is ready to get back to winning form according to Adam Watt of Dynamic Syndications.

It's a hometown win in the Kempsey Cup! The Tony Ball-trained Xtra Approval roars clear with a visibly thrilled Siena Grima in the saddle 🏆 pic.twitter.com/jZaEZ1ddGg

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 8, 2024

“Zac Lloyd got off the other night and said he is looking for 1900 to 2000 metres now,” Watt said.

“We had nominated him for this race prior to that run thinking it would be a nice little set up for him backing up from 1550m on Friday night up to the 2000 metres.

“He looks well placed and deserves his place at the top of the market.

“The horse is absolutely bouncing out of his skin and I would expect him to be very hard to beat.

“He will appreciate the good draw where he will be able to position a bit closer now that he is up to his right distance.

“We certainly feel he is building towards another win.”

Three-year-old filly Played Strong is a recent addition to the Deamer stable and makes her race debut in the Provincial Maiden Plate (1350m) with Andrew Adkins on board.

The daughter of All Too Hard – originally trained at Tulloch Lodge – had two Sydney trials for leading trainer Ciaron Maher before finding her way to Deamer.

“We had an open conversation with the ownership group and said she is a filly who will win races but is showing us she is more a provincial class horse at the moment,” Watt said.

“Jason does an amazing job for us training at over 20 per cent winning strike rate for us and felt it opened a nice pool of race options being based at Newcastle.

“Her first trial at Warwick Farm where she ran fourth was great and we wanted to trial over 1100m in her second but she was balloted out and had to go into the 898m trial.

“It’s a little bit misleading. She would have been better if she was over the 1100m.

“No doubt Tasoraay is the one to beat but I think this filly will run very well.”

Dynamic’s third runner for the day is the recent Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald acquisition Shelstein in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m).

“We just bought him last week from the Inglis Digital Sale for $60,000,” Watt said.

“He will either run on the Beaumont or at Randwick on Saturday.

The son of Written Tycoon and stakes-winning mare Sylvia’s Mother raced well in both starts of his debut campaign and returned this time in with a first-up win at Kembla followed by a handy third to Aye Aye Captain at Rosehill.

When nothing else wanted the front, @KPMcEvoy took Aye Aye Captain to a clear lead and she fought hard to hold off her rivals in the Rosehill opener.

That's @BradJGray's first best bet home ✅ pic.twitter.com/p5SX7V6i9L

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 13, 2024

He was last of nine behind Codetta in his last run at Canterbury on November 29 but with an excuse.

“He just hated the driving rain when he finished down the track at Canterbury last start but his previous two runs were very good,” Watt said

“I think he will be a nice fun purchase for his owners over the summer months.”

Dynamic Syndications also has Piccaderro running at Canterbury on Friday night while Rapt and Awesome Tycoon will race at Randwick on Saturday.

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Freedman hopes to toast late friend with Cold Brew

Trainer Will Freedman. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

For trainer Will Freedman, any victory is always enjoyed but a win by Cold Brew will hold special place in his heart.

Cold Brew will make his race debut in the Vale Sam Kavanagh Maiden Handicap for colts, gelding and entires over 1200m.

“Sam Kavanagh was one of my very good friends and it would be a very sentimental win if he does win,” said Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father, Richard.

“If there is anything like divine intervention, I’m sure he will try and get it over the line.”

The three-year-old son of Pierro has created a bit of a buzz at the barrier trials with two very good performances.

He closed off nicely from back in the field when fourth behind Blue Illusion and Hyperbolic at Hawkesbury on October 28 before tracking the leader and dashing home quickly along the rail to beat Simply Just and Great White Shark at Rosehill on November 14.

“In his first trial, he was a bit slow away and I thought he made up good ground. In his second trial, he did everything a lot more professionally,” Freedman said.

“It was great to see him do things better from the first trial and hopefully he gets some more natural improvement out of his second but they are horses.

“The form out his trials has been very good. Great White Shark won in town second up, Simply Just of Gerald (Ryan) and Sterling’s (Alexiou) stable has run very well and the horse who flashed home for fourth (Arriving Home) won at Warwick Farm the other day.

“It’s good to see the trial form stack up but he has to put the runs on the board now himself.

“He has had a good grounding of education and he should be ready to do it.”

The father and son trainers will saddle up talented mare Elettrica in the Benchmark 100 at Randwick on Saturday while stablemate Ang Pow will either run in the same race or at Eagle Farm.

“They are both in good form,” Freedman said.

“Our plan is to get her to the Belle Of The Turf at Wyong on December 31 and this race will top her off for that.

“Ang Pow just needs a bit of jar out of the track. He doesn’t love firm tracks any more.

“He’s in good form now and we expect him to perform again.”

Originally published as Beaumont preview: A step up to a staying distance can get Jack Duggan back to winning form