Promising Beaumarchais back on black type trail

Further stakes events are likely to be a feature of Beaumarchais’ upcoming four-year-old campaign.

The son of Savabeel beat the older horses twice last season before he measured up encouragingly against his own age group when fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) behind his illustrious stablemate Gingernuts.

Beaumarchais closed out his preparation with a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni.

“He was a bit stiff there when he got back to last and charged late at Charles Road,” said Jamie Richards, who trains in partnership at Matamata with Stephen Autridge.

Beaumarchais has twice trialled at Te Teko in preparation for his return to racing.

“We’re going to take him to Ruakaka for a Rating 85 over 1400m on Wednesday to kick him off,” Richards said.

Beaumarchais has been nominated for the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton, but nothing has been set in stone as yet.

“He’s got time for two runs and he would have to be pretty impressive to warrant going down there, we’ll see how he goes,” Richards said.

“We might be better off waiting for a race like the Thorndon Mile at Trentham. There’s a good race in the horse somewhere.”

Stablemate Fashionably, who also stretched her legs at the Te Teko trials, is another four-year-old closing in on a return after showing promise last term.

A daughter of Redoute’s Choice and the dual Group One winner Scarlett Lady, she was a winner and ran fifth behind Bonneval in both the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (2000m).

“She’s going very well and she’s a lovely mare,” Richards said. “We might give her another trial before we look for a suitable race for her. She’s really strengthened up.”