Beadman set to ride in the Derby
Champion jockey Darren Beadman has made an application to the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ride the Hawkes Racing-trained Shadowofexcellence in the Group I AAMI Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday week.
The regally bred colt, a three-quarter brother to three-time Melbourne Cup heroine Makybe Diva, is pushing on towards a Derby start despite his last start failure in the Group II Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield last weekend.
Shadowofexcellence missed the start by a big margin before struggling in the heavy conditions on his way to an 11-1/4 length defeat by the Peter Snowden-trained Retrieve.
Beadman said Shadowofexcellence showed that he was an above average colt at his previous start on a firmer surface to suggest he would be competitive in the $1.5 million feature at Flemington on October 30.
“He’s obviously a good colt and if we get a decent track he’s a nice Derby ride,” he said. “Hawkesy and I have had plenty of success together so it would be good to have another go at a feature with him.
“With the pedigree the horse possesses you would think he’s going to come right into his own over 2500 metres and watching the tape of his Flemington run gives me confidence.”
It is anticipated the Hong Kong Jockey Club will give Beadman a clearance to return to Australia to ride the three-year-old in the Victoria Derby.
Shadowofexcellence is a $12 chance in the Victoria Derby with Betchoice.
Clinton Payne