3 minute read
Without the attachment to a stable, jockey Danny Beasley has been finding the going a bit tougher in season 2013.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The Australian jockey is nearing the end of his sixth season in Singapore having commenced duties in October 2007 and still has the passion and drive to succeed.
He almost pulled off the big race last weekend, only to be run down in the final few strides on El Milagro when claimed by Speedy Cat in the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup over 1400m.
Beasley will be back in action on Friday night where he has three rides on the nine race program and will have eight rides on Sunday’s 11 race card.
It has been a slow start in 2013 for Beasley with just 14 winners to his name and at the corresponding stage last year he had 35 of his 67 winners for the year.
In 2012 he was stable rider for Cliff Brown but this year is riding freelance and said it was a lot tougher getting the quality rides that he had had in previous seasons.
“I’m riding freelance and just poking around this year,” said Beasley. “I’ll ride for whoever asks.
“It’s the first year that I haven’t had a stable that I’ve ridden for.
“When you’re attached to a stable you’re always getting plenty of rides and you also get first choice of those rides.
“If you look at Cliff for whom I was riding last year. If I was still with him and he’s had 20 winners at this stage, then I would have ridden most of them and I would be nearly around the same number of winners at this stage as I was last year.
“This year I’ve spread myself around more. I’ve picked up a lot of more rides from Laurie (Laxon) and he’s probably given me the most of any stable.”
As he goes in search of the better rides, Beasley has decided to try and ride a bit lighter and in doing so has picked up the ride aboard Running Tall in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1400m on Sunday.
Trained by Patrick Shaw, Running Tall has 52kg in Sunday’s race and Beasley said he looks a good ride and is worth the effort in shedding that extra kilogram to take the mount.
“I don’t usually ride that light but he looks a good ride,” said Beasley. “He looks pretty well weighted in that sort of race, so I rang Ricardo (Le Grange, Shaw’s assistant-trainer) and he was happy to put me on.
“He’s a horse that is racing in good form and one horse that I feel very good about.”
Beasley will also be aiming for the hat-trick of victories on Friday night when he partners Peaceful Warrior in the $95,000 Open Benchmark 83 Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack.
Beasley was successful aboard the David Kok-trained galloper in a Kranji Stakes C over 1000m in March before winning in Class 3 grade over 1100m in late April.
Both races were run on the Polytrack.
Since he last raced Peaceful Warrior has won a 1000m barrier trial on May 30 under the guidance of local rider Alan Ng.
“I’ve ridden him in some of his work since his last win but I didn’t ride him in his trial,” said Beasley.
“He seems like he’s in good form and he looks a nice ride on Friday night.”
While Beasley has saluted just 14 times during season 2013, he is nonetheless happy with what he has been able to achieve.
“It would have been good if El Milagro had of held on the other,” said Beasley. “That and his (Group 3) Kranji Sprint win (in April) would have been the icing on the cake.
“Who knows, it might all turn around all of a sudden and a few winners might start coming my way.”