Racing
Flemington straight to launch Beiwacht campaign
Beiwacht will get another shot at the Flemington straight when he lines up in the Lightning Stakes.
A potential overseas campaign has seen Chris Waller and Godolphin dispatch Beiwacht to Melbourne to get some experience of straight track racing.
Beiwacht is down to run in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday where he will be pitted against another exciting Godolphin-owned three-year-old Tentyris, prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Both Godolphin colts are also slated to run in the Group 1 Newmarket handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 7 with the pair also in line for some overseas mid-year travel with a potential trip to the UK for the Royal Ascot meeting in June.
The pair has met down the Flemington straight once previously with Tentyris winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) last November with Beiwacht finishing fourth.
However, that fourth-place finish came after Beiwacht recorded and explosive win in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill in September.
Trainer Chris Waller said Beiwacht was ready to go after Ben Melham, who rides the colt on Saturday, gave a glowing report after a gallop at Flemington last week.
"Darren (Beadman) went down to watch it, and he gave us a glowing report," Waller said.
"Everyone is happy."
Waller said the two Melbourne Flemington runs were in preparation for travel, but first and foremost the trainer and Godolphin want to see the colt back in good form.
"We need him in form and we need him used to straight racing," Waller said.
"We will let him run his race, not worry too much about other things. We will get him into a good rhythm and let him find his pace he's comfortable with.
"I think that's what we have to do with him, he showed that in the Golden Rose. Let him use his speed but harness that speed, a little bit like Nature Strip.
"He's not as free going, but we've just got to get it right."
Waller used a similar template with Home Affair who won the Lightning after taking out the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
However, Home Affairs could not back it up in the 2022 Newmarket Handicap, when burdened with 56kg for a three-year-old, finishing ninth, before going to Royal Ascot to finish in the back-half of the field in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee (1200m).
"To get him ready for the Newmarket, they need to have a run first so it might as well be up the straight," Waller said.
"It could have been in the Eskimo Prince (in Sydney), but he's won his Group 1, so I'll keep him there and give him a chance the learn about straight racing."
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