KEY POINTS:
Darren Beadman made a triumphant return to Sydney racing at Rosehill yesterday and raised his own bar even higher with a treble taking him to 153 wins for the season, one more than the record he set last year.
All three of Beadman's winners were trained by John Hawkes and the pair made an immediate impact claiming the first two races on the programme. The country's leading combination then had to wait for the last race which was no contest when Grand Cause strolled to the front in the straight and went on to win the Harris Farm Welter (1400m) by five lengths.
"I have had a lot of support over the last 12 months from my family and it's a team effort at Crown Lodge," Beadman said. "It's very rewarding but the whole team, John Hawkes, [foreman] Peter Snowden and everyone there, does a great job."
The treble took Hawkes' Sydney tally to 147 and he is well clear of Gai Waterhouse who has trained 95 winners.
Snowden is the public face of the Hawkes stable and was on hand to cheer Beadman back to the enclosure.
"I'm really pleased that we were able to give it to him on one of our horses," Snowden said.
"That made it even better."
In his first race back from a careless riding suspension, Beadman bounced straight into the winner's circle with victory aboard Canyonville in the Pony Express Handicap (1400m).
Thirty-five minutes later Beadman guided consistent 3-year-old Cocoruru to win the Lynch Flowers Handicap.
Although most of the horses at Crown Lodge sport the Ingham family's cerise colours, Canyonville is raced by Nick Moraitis and Grand Cause by Dynamic Syndications.
Canyonville was an early drifter in betting before being backed from $4.20 to start $4 and she accounted for Ruby Bre by 1 1/4 lengths with the favourite Donna Intelligente a neck back third.
"He's not too bad, that Darren Beadman," Moraitis said. "I'd like him on all my horses, he gives them a chance."
Punters didn't let Cocoruru get under their radar, sending the colt out the even-money favourite and, after settling midfield, Beadman brought the 3-year-old with a strong challenge in the straight to defeat Bellagio Wynn ($51) by a half-length.
Not surprisingly, Grand Cause started the well-supported $2.60 favourite and made short work of Under Command inside the final 300m with Roving Owl a neck away third.
With eight meetings left in the 2006-07 season, Beadman is on target to establish a standard that may be out of reach in the near future.
Zac Purton, who is due to leave next month to take up a contract in Hong Kong, will run second this year with his one winner yesterday, Legendary Man, taking him to 69 for the season.
- AAP
