3 minute read
When connections of a mare trained by Charlie Goggin were looking to rehome Beryl Bee, a daughter of Snippetson, she ended up in the care of prominent Brighton-based trainer Stuart Gandy who eventually sent her to the breeding barn.
In Brief
- After 10 minor placings gelding finally breaks drought.
- Give-away dam succeeds at stud.
- The Beekeeper always showed promise
Beryl Bee was covered by Wordsmith and that first mating delivered The Beekeeper who broke through for his first win in Goodstone Group Maiden (1350m) in Devonport last Sunday.
If ever there was a horse that deserved to break its maiden status it was The Beekeeper, as he had been placed in 10 of his previous 14 starts of which one of his five seconds was behind superstar filly Hela at only his second race start last season.
The Stuart Gandy-trained gelding is owned and raced by the trainer's wife, Ruth Gandy.
Despite having so many minor placings to his name, punters warmed to The Beekeeper on Sunday and sent the four-year-old gelding around as the $2.60 favourite.
He was ridden by in-form apprentice Erica Byrne Burke who allowed the gelding to slide forward and once in front she rated him superbly, leaving him with plenty on reserve top sprint clear of his rivals in the home straight.
The Beekeeper went on to score by almost six lengths from the well-backed Poet Warrior ($3) with Gold Gown ($41) over a length astern.
"It was so good to see him win a race because he has been very consistent," Gandy said.
It was a Tasbred Bonus race and as Gandy and his wife bred the gelding, they netted the entire $20,000 bonus payment on top of the $12,500 winner's stake.
Beryl Bee's second foal, also by Wordsmith, is Spelling Bee and he has had only two starts for two minor placings, after which he was spelled.
Beryl Bee was bred by prominent Hobart property developer and thoroughbred breeder Bruce Neill, who raced Beryl Bee as well as his mother Maggie Bee that won seven and placed four times from only 24 starts for close to $100,000 in stakes.
Maggie Bee won a three-year-old open handicap at Caulfield when ridden by Anthony Darmanin, who at the time was a two kilogram-claiming Victorian apprentice.
Maggie Bee also placed fourth on the Group 3 Cockram Stakes, also at Caulfield over 1200m as well as a win at Sandown as a two-year-old and she placed second at Flemington the same season (2003-4).
