This time last year the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Beskar was showing immense promise with a debut win and a third in the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes, but it’s taken him a year to turn talent into stakes success.
The son of Snitzel lost form in four subsequent starts in Black Type races with connections electing to geld him at the end of last year. They were quickly rewarded when he finished third in the Group III MRC Zeditave Stakes last month when resuming from a spell earning him a trip to Sydney.
Sent to the post a rank outsider in the Listed ATC Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) with champion jockey Damian Lane on board, Beskar ran out of his skin after being given every opportunity by Lane.
He crossed from an outside gate to find the fence behind the leaders and when switched around their heels was able to kick clear and win by three-quarters of a length over the late closing fillies Agarwood and Caffe Florian.
Anthony Freedman was somewhat perplexed about the 80-1 starting price, but happy to take the win.
Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, Beskar was purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from the Widden draft at Inglis Easter for $600,000 and runs for Pincecliff Racing with two wins and two placings from eight starts and prizemoney just shy of $200,000.
He is the best of two winners from Group II winning New Approach (IRE) mare Sword of Light, a half-sister to stakes-winner Sword of Justice from a proven Contract Racing female family with his third dam Group III winning blue hen Razor Blade, who left four stakes-winners headed by Group I winning sprinter Flamberge.
A $900,000 Inglis Chairman’s Sale purchase for Widden Stud back in 2020, Sword of Light has a yearling colt by Zoustar that will be offered by Widden at Inglis Easter as Lot 135.
She had a filly last spring by Zoustar and was then covered by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Beskar is the 169th stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel.
