Gentleman Beckham set for racing return

Wednesday 27 September 2017, 11:23am

Well-bred Beckham is set to again prove it was a wise move not to geld him when he returns to racing on Saturday.

Beckham is a rarity in Queensland racing in that he is a seven-year-old entire racing in open-company class .

His nine rivals in the Coolum Caprice Handicap (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast are made up of eight geldings and a mare.

Beckham is raced by Garry and Mark Chittick of the Waikato Stud and did his early racing in New Zealand with trainer Peter McKay.

He won at Matamata before being sent to Liam Birchley and has won six of his 20 starts for the Eagle Farm trainer.

There are few better-bred horses than Beckham who is by top kiwi sire Pins out of the Group One-winning mare Glamour Puss who produced six winners before a fatal colic attack two years ago.

It makes Beckham a possible stud proposition but on several occasions connections considered whether to geld him.

Birchley said there never had a been a real reason to geld Beckham.

"He always tries hard in his races and he is a gentleman around the stables and easy to handle. So why geld him when he has that breeding?" Birchley said.

"Beckham has been placed in stakes company when a good second in the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich.

"But whether that is enough to make him a commercial sire remains to be seen.

"He would probably need to win a better stakes race to get a chance."

Birchley said a stint at stud in Queensland or New Zealand's South Island might be options.

"Until then he can potter along racing. Saturday's race might be a bit short for him but he is going well. We can step him up in distance in the coming weeks," Birchley said.

Some of the summer feature races in Brisbane could eventually be on Beckham's radar.

Beckham has one advantage on Saturday in that he loves the big Sunshine Coast circuit having won twice from his only two starts at the track.

– AAP

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