A frontrunner to scoop the juvenile title on Monday, Be Bee showed that the slight knock he took and saw him scratched from the last race on New Year’s Day was nothing but a mere speed bump after he bounced back to win his barrier trial on Thursday.
The Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) winner would have no doubt been one of the leading favourites in the New Year Cup meeting’s Class 3 Division 2 Prosperity 2018 Stakes over 1200m, even if the last-start Class 4 winner was rising in class.
It proved to be just a short postponement in the plans. Be Bee made a quick recovery, and a quick return to the barrier trials three days later.
Be Bee (John Powell) takes out the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe last July, picture Singapore Turf Club
Settled by regular partner John Powell in the box-seat, the son of Showcasing charged through the gap left by the leader Darc Bounty (Craig Grylls) upon straightening, holding on to a slender advantage he maintained all the way to the line without being asked to do too much, eventually falling in by a short head from the fast-finishing Darci Charmer (Michael Rodd).
Be Bee is one of three nominees to the Champion Two-Year-Old award to be announced at the Singapore Racing Awards 2017 on Monday night. His main rival would be Mr Hanks, his nemesis in the Group 3 Juvenile Championship (1400m).
“He was ready to run on Monday but we had to scratch him after he knocked his left fore. It was nothing serious and he trialled very well this morning,” said trainer Shane Baertschiger.
“I hope he wins the champion 2YO title on Monday. He won two races including a Group 2 race and would really deserve it.”
Baertschiger said that the Auric Stable-owned galloper has continued to mature and strengthen up as a three-year-old, as could be seen from his convincing win in a Class 4 race over 1200m on Polytrack on December 1.
He will now run Be Bee in the Class 3 race over 1200m on Polytrack next Friday.
“We will just take him through his grades. That Class 3 race over 1200m is perfect for him,” said Baertschiger whose father Don has prepared many handy horses for the Auric Stable in the past like Tres Sheik and Tuxedo Moon more recently.
In the meantime, the Australian, who enjoyed his most successful season last year when third on 61 winners, will saddle a small team of four runners this Sunday, with last-start winner Chocante in the $85,000 Novice race over 1200m on Polytrack arguably his main chance.
After two warm-up runs, the Fastnet Rock three-year-old was right on target at his third start in an Initiation race over 1100m on Polytrack on November 19.
“Chocante has done well since his last win. He trialled well last week (half-length second to Super Power on December 28),” said Baertschiger.
“He has drawn barrier five and Daniel Moor will ride him. The horse to beat is Michael Clements’ US-bred horse (debut winner Wooden Heart).”
Baertschiger saddles a second horse in the race, Gol Goal (Powell), who has been running on in his races but may find the six-furlong trip a bit short.
