Interim trainer for the powerhouse Godolphin stable Darren Beadman celebrated his first Group 1 win outside of the saddle thanks to a brave win by the three-year-old Impending in the Stradbroke Handicap 2017.

Impending delivered Godolphin a Group 1 victory in the 2017 Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart
Punters could get the Lonhro colt around $20 to take out this season’s $1.5 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m), Impending having his first run at the Doomben track.
The history of upset Stradbroke Handicap winners continued then, Impending the sixth on the trot to salute at odds of $11 or more.
Last time out in the new traditional Stradbroke Handicap lead-up race, Impending finished a distant eighth in the wet behind the Kris Lees-trained Clearly Innocent in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m).
He was back to his best and the big improver in the Stradbroke Handicap results however on the more suitable firm track for his first win since the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last September.
Ridden by Corey Brown from a wide gate, Impending became the first three-year-old Stradbroke Handicap winner since Sincero (2011) after running down the Benjamin Smith-trained mare In Her Time down the straight.
Rounding out the Stradbroke Handicap trifecta in third was the beaten favourite Clearly Innocent who did well carrying the 57kg top weight working his way from well back to finish in the money.
It was a great line out of the gates bar Counterattack who missed the jump, Jungle Edge showing his customary early speed to lead before fading to finish last in another failed run on firm ground by the known mudlark.
Darren Weir’s miler Burning Front settled into second and four-year-old In Her Time, coming off a Doomben 10,000 fifth, was doing it tough out wide in third.
Clearly Innocent meanwhile was well back second last with all the ground to make up.
As the turn for home approached, Burning Front was fighting for the lead with In Her Time before fading out as the backmarkers ran on.
The mare was up front and travelling well towards the line, looking the winner before the late run from Impending who came with an outstanding finish to take it out.
“It was a good win,” Brown said post-race.
“I know he carried no weight…but I was a little bit concerned about [the barrier].
“He needs room this horse. The more room he has the better he is.
“It was all over by the time I got to about the 500m.
“He didn’t run away from them, but he still won really well.”
The Godolphin team are now eyeing the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival riches for Impending with races like the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate eve in October and the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) down the Flemington straight during the Melbourne Cup Carnival possible targets.
Get behind the Stradbroke Handicap 2017 winner Impending next race at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Stradbroke Handicap Results & Finishing Order
Doomben Race 6 – 10/06/2017
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 16 | IMPENDING | Darren Beadman | Corey Brown | – | 13 | 52.5kg (cd 51kg) | $20 |
2 | 7 | IN HER TIME | Benjamin Smith | Dean Yendall | 0.3L | 12 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $20 |
3 | 1 | CLEARLY INNOCENT | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 1.3L | 15 | 57kg (cd 55.5kg) | $4.80F |
4 | 4 | COUNTERATTACK | Chris Waller | Leith Innes | 1.5L | 2 | 54.5kg (cd 53kg) | $6 |
5 | 5 | GOOD PROJECT | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 2.8L | 6 | 54.5kg (cd 53kg) | $26 |
6 | 14 | GOLD SYMPHONY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Jim Byrne | 2.9L | 8 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $31 |
7 | 13 | EGYPTIAN SYMBOL | Bjorn Baker | Glyn Schofield | 3.1L | 7 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $13 |
8 | 15 | DERRYN | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Craig Williams | 3.3L | 16 | 53kg (cd 51.5kg) | $10 |
9 | 3 | BURNING FRONT | Darren Weir | Ben Allen (a) | 3.5L | 9 | 54.5kg (cd 53kg) | $14 |
10 | 12 | KAEPERNICK | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Patrick Moloney | 4.3L | 10 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $61 |
11 | 10 | ULMANN | Darren Weir | Luke Nolen | 4.5L | 5 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $9.50 |
12 | 8 | MACKINTOSH (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 4.6L | 1 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $8.50 |
13 | 9 | HOPFGARTEN | Robert Heathcote | Ronnie Stewart | 4.9L | 3 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $31 |
14 | 6 | HOOKED | Robert Smerdon | Noel Callow | 8.4L | 11 | 54kg (cd 52.5kg) | $21 |
15 | 2 | JUNGLE EDGE | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | 15.2L | 4 | 55.5kg (cd 54kg) | $21 |
16 | 11 | RAGEESE | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 17.2L | 14 | 53.5kg (cd 52kg) | $41 |
– | 20e | TOO GOOD TO REFUSE | Desleigh Forster | Robbie Fradd | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 21e | OAK DOOR | Robert Smerdon | – | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 19e | YESTERDAY’S SONGS | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 17e | THE VIRGINIAN | Toby Edmonds | – | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 18e | BONNY O’REILLY (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | – | – | 0 | – | – |