Clinton Isdale backed his judgment when entering Beebeep (NZ) (Vespa) in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa, and the Cambridge horseman was duly rewarded when the mare scored a runner-up result behind Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit).
“We had her entered in at Hastings on the final day, in the (rating) 75 1200m, and I just thought the Sweynesse was a little easier option,” Isdale said.
“There were a lot of older horses that hadn’t struck form, besides Johny Johny, and she is a young horse on the way up, so I thought we would have a crack.”
The daughter of Vespa has now won two and placed in three of her eight starts, and ran fourth in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in April.
Isdale was delighted to get the result for owner-breeder Tracey Harrold, who has been a big supporter of his.
“It is good to get some black-type for the owner, Tracey, she has been with me since I started training,” Isdale said.
“I bought a horse off her at the sales called Beauty Diva and she was an unlucky fifth in the Karaka Million. The next year she sent me a horse to train out of that same mare, Ketchme, who was a Super Easy horse. We won a trial with him and sold him to Hong Kong, and Beebeep was the next one out of the mare.
“She is a small-time breeder, but she breeds horses that run well.”
With some black-type now locked in the bank, Isdale is now hoping to snare a stakes victory with his mare, with his sights firmly set on next month’s Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
“She will go to the Breeders’ at Pukekohe on the 25th of November. We will monitor her over the next week or so before deciding whether she needs a run in-between or go straight there,” he said.
While looking forward to Beebeep’s looming target, his focus has shifted south this week where Funfetti (NZ) (Embellish) will tackle the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Isdale purchased the filly off gavelhouse.com for $2,000 as a two-year-old and struck immediately with the daughter of Embellish when winning on debut over 1200m at Phar Lap Raceway earlier this month.
“We bought her off Lance Noble and I gave her a jumpout here (Cambridge) behind some nice horses and she went really well,” Isdale said.
“I thought it would be a bit short for her at Timaru, but she showed a good turn of foot.
“I think the better horses will go towards the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), so we might dodge some of them with a bit of luck.”
