Godolphin two-year-old Beiwacht ($17.00) has caused a minor upset in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, fending off the late challenge of West Of Swindon to claim a confidence building victory.
The Bivouac colt was coming off a strong runner-up performance behind Bellazaine in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick on February 8 and appeared set to peak third-up into the campaign after a testing front-running effort.
He adopted similar tactics under Adam Hyeronimus on Saturday, with Beiwacht sent forward to sit outside the Peter Snowden-trained Gambler ($8.00) in the early stages, as the pair strode out in unison.
Bel Merci ($3.20) and West Of Swindon ($9.00) slotted into the perfect stalking position behind the leading pair, while it was a horror watch for favourite backers with horse racing bookmakers, as Wodeton ($2.00) was cast three-wide without cover at the rear of the field under Kerrin McEvoy.
Beiwacht gave a strong kick turning for home, and put four lengths on them at the 300m pole, leaving West Of Swindon the only one making inroads as they ran past the furlong marker.
The James Cummings-trained colt proved too classy in the end, however, while West Of Swindon and Wodeton lost no admirers filling out the minor money.
James Cummings spoke post-race and discussed the work that has gone into the two-year-old behind the scenes.
“He was out of the frame on debut but we chipped away,” said Cummings.
“Stuck to the plan, we didn’t panic and it’s a great testament to our teams that we’ve been able to continue to get this horse to go the right way because he’s got a lot of natural pace.
“He’s got speed to burn and we just needed to calm him down, get him to do it right and that’s what you get with a colt by Bivouac who’s a fast horse out of a Street Cry mare who’s already thrown a group winner.
“This is a class animal and a month out from the Golden Slipper, that’s a huge result.
“His debut was disastrous but it was just a bad set-up. We stuck to the plan and I love that he’s had that tough run. He loomed up on the inside last time and he was better again coming into this race.
“I appreciate that he’s had everything, absolutely everything go his way today but look, he’s a Silver Slipper winner and a legitimate class act going into a Golden Slipper four weeks out.”
Adam Hyeronimus was delighted with the performance and suggested Beiwacht has plenty of upside moving forward.
“Last start it was a perfect set-up,” said Hyeronimus.
“He was quite strong on debut and he’s quite a strong colt. Not aggressively strong, just learning and obviously a horse that’s got a lot of ability and just trying to teach him to get to him to settle and harness that.
“Today, with the good speed, he jumped well, he was nice and relaxed in the first 100m, and I was able to take up a nice position outside the lead on a good speed.
“There’s a lot of improvement, as I said, he’s still a very raw colt, and a couple little things he’s doing, what he’s doing is just pure ability. They’re not bad things that he’s doing, but once he realises he’s a racehorse, there’ll be a lot of a different story.”
Beiwacht is now a $13.00 chance with BlondeBet for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 22.
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