Beadman Tops Treble With Cup

Sun Herald

Sunday May 20, 2001

By CRAIG YOUNG, ROSEHILL

STAYING atom Majestically's photo-finish victory in yesterday's Stayers' Cup at Rosehill provided born-again jockey Darren Beadman with the third leg of a treble.

But Beadman, like Majestically's owner-breeder and Sydney Turf Club chairman Graeme Pash, had thought the gelding had been outstayed by Viva La Vie.

``I thought I'd got beat," Beadman said shortly after Pash had used the same line.

``But he is such a game little horse. The other horse [Viva La Vie] had had another run since they last meet, so he had the fitness edge on us but my bloke never gave up.

``He tried his heart out and was rewarded."

Pash, who races Majestically with wife Julie, rated the win extra special for a horse that was once a leading juvenile and Golden Slipper contender.

``It's lovely, even better to win a Listed race, as we own the mare Rosecay," Pash said.

``Winning at 2,400m he was a precocious two-year-old which hasn't grown since he was in the yearling ring.

``He ran in a Golden Slipper, should have nearly won, he was knocked over three times."

Majestically has won seven from 22 and collected more than $255,000 in prizemoney.

Majestically started at $5.50 and just pipped Viva La Vie, the popular pick at $4 after opening at $3.10.

The performance of the runner-up, which is bound for Brisbane, was encouraging, as the gelding had to cart the field up to the tearaway leaders and rallied strongly under Lenny Beasley when Majestically loomed up.

Beasley had revenge on the camera in the following race when Desert Trick beat Juggling Time in another deceptive photo finish.

The favourite, Scottish Pride, returned with excuses for failing, having lost two teeth when smashing into the barriers on jumping.

Beadman won the opening race on the $4 equal favourite Seesaw and scored on the Allan Denham-trained Ozioziozi, which started favourite in the Thomas Group Hotels Series.