Exciting colt Beadman rockets into JJ Atkins contention with eight-length Gold Coast romp

Named after a champion jockey, and ridden by another, Beadman had his price slashed for the Group 1 JJ Atkins after his breathtaking win at the Gold Coast.

Beadman, ridden by James McDonald, destroys his opposition in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast. Picture: Bethany Allday/Trackside Photography

Sydney trainer Peter Snowden joked that Darren Beadman has taken about “50 selfies” with the horse named after the Hall of Fame hoop.

And he might be taking a lot more snapshots with the classy colt after another champion jockey, James McDonald, scored a gobsmacking 8¼-length victory in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Beadman is named after one of the all-time great jockeys and was ridden on Saturday by a hoop on the same path as McDonald toyed with his outclassed rivals on a Heavy 8 track in the $200,000 race for two-year-olds.

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The colt zoomed in from $15 to $4.50 equal favourite for the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) on the strength of his emphatic victory on Saturday, finishing well ahead of local pair Sunrays ($3.60) and Fabulantes ($6).

“It is definitely named after Dazza,” Snowden said of the colt who has now won two of his three races.

“I’m telling you, Dazza’s had about 50 selfies with the horse. He loves this horse.

“He said when your name is behind a horse, you always mark them how the horse goes and not your name.

“I’m pleased to say he’s a good friend of mine and we’ve got on well together for a long time during the Crown Lodge days.

“For my career he’s always been there and it’s a privilege to have a horse in the stable with a name like that.”

Beadman WOW! He smashes them and wins eased down 🔥 @[e-mail]/UfpGnGtb7T

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025

Snowden won the race for the third time following his triumphs in 2017 and 2019, with Taking Aim and Stronger respectively, when he trained with son Paul.

“He’s always promised a lot and he’s a beautiful type so he’s definitely got a bright future,” said McDonald after notching his first win in this year’s Queensland winter carnival.

“That was the definition of sustained speed.

“I couldn’t hear them coming, which was a bit of a worry because I didn’t want one of them to blouse him.

“I hadn’t expected him to be that far in front of them, so I was able to be pretty soft on him late.

“He’s a big colt and he’s still learning his craft, so he won’t take any harm from that and I’m sure he’ll win another race up here.”

Beadman is named after champion jockey Darren Beadman. Picture: Bethany Allday/Trackside Photography

Snowden said Beadman would next head to the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on May 31 at Eagle Farm before a likely tilt at the JJ Atkins two weeks later at the same venue.

“The only question was whether he could handle that sort of track,” Snowden said.

“It was a pretty good effort for a young horse. The progression he’s made just this last month is pretty incredible.

“He’s clearly very talented, and he doesn’t know how good he is. He did give me the feeling that we could come up here and win a decent race with him, but he’s certainly surprised me today with that performance.”

Beadman was purchased for $900,000 as a yearling at the Magic Millions Sale and is raced by a high-profile syndicate of owners, including Newgate Farm supremo Henry Field.

“He’s obviously got a big price tag but you’ve got to try the horse out and see where they land,” Snowden said.

“He was expensive but not absolutely crazy, and it looks like he has the ability to back it up.

“He’s so raw and untapped. I won’t put a ceiling on where he goes or what he does but I’m glad to have him in the yard.”

Originally published as Exciting colt Beadman rockets into JJ Atkins contention with eight-length Gold Coast romp