The Tony and Maddysen Sears stable have Queensland Winter Carnival ambitions for Beau Dazzler after his comfortable win at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in May is in the plans for the Sears father-and-daughter training team who will send Beau Dazzler for a break following one more start this campaign.
Ridden by Jag Guthmann-Chester, Beau Dazzler ($8.50) relished the rain sodden Eagle Farm track to score a three length win in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) from Sun Worshipper ($18) with Madam Lexis ($41) in third place.
Saturday’s victory was just Beau Dazzler’s second in 11 starts after he scored in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben just on 12 months ago.
Maddysen Sears said Beau Dazzler had been purchased with the Derby in mind.
“He has always shown us a lot of ability, but he’s a tricky horse and not always easy to do things with,” Sears told Sky Central.
“We bought him as a Derby style of horse, so we didn’t think the distance today would be any problem and when the rain came, it was almost going to be a 2000-metre race how heavy it was.
“His ability won him the race.”
Sears said there is a 2000-metre race in two weeks that Beau Dazzler will head towards before he is given a break to prepare for the Derby in May.
“I think he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the Queensland Derby,” Sears said.
“He’s a Stakes winner as a two-year-old and he’s gone on to do it now as a three-year-old.
“I’m not sure what the future holds, but he’s a horse that keeps on improving.”
Guthmann-Chester was happy to see Beau Dazzler draw barrier one when the fields came out on Wednesday, but continuous rain throughout Saturday’s program pushed the surface into the heavy range.
“When acceptances came out, I thought barrier one was beautiful, but the way the track is playing today, one is not the place to be,” Guthmann-Chester said.
“I wanted to be wherever Damien (Thornton) was on the favourite and when he crossed me, I was happy to pop off the fence and from there we got into a lovely rhythm.
“At the half mile I just had to bide my time, was able to suck up through the middle of them on the turn and we were able to present in the middle of the track and he was too good late.”