Beiwacht shines in record-breaking Golden Rose glory

Outstanding colt Beiwacht (Bivouac) broke 1,400m track record and his G1 Golden Rose rivals’ hearts with a breathtaking display of sustained speed in Saturday’s feature for three-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens.

Taken straight to the front by jockey Adam Hyeronimus, Beiwacht covered his first 800m from a standing start in a sizzling 46.54 seconds before stopping the clock on 1 min 20.79 secs – 0.43 sec inside open-class galloper Cepheus’s record set in 2023.

Beiwacht beat Wodeton by just over four lengths, with the winner’s former stablemate Tempted a short-head away in third place.

A winner of the G2 Silver Slipper at Rosehill as a two-year-old, Beiwacht was having his third start for new trainer Chris Waller after placings in the G3 San Domenico Stakes (1,100m) and G2 Run To The Rose (1,200m) this spring.

A son of Godolphin’s former champion sprinter and now Darley sire Bivouac, who won the Golden Rose for Sheikh Mohammed under trainer James Cummings in 2019, Beiwacht ticked the G1 box and lifted his record to two wins and three placings for prize-money and bonus earnings of $910,275.

The victory was Waller’s first G1 for Godolphin, his 181st at the highest level and the seventh Golden Rose victory for the royal blue colours since 2009.

Waller paid tribute to the organisation, and then to Hyeronimus.

“I’m honoured to be training for them,” he said.

“What they’ve done for Australian racing?

“They’ve been my biggest competitor for many years consistently in these big races, the stallion-making races.

“They are an amazing team, we’ve learnt a lot from them.

“Adam did a great job and Godolphin have stuck solid with him.

“Adam didn’t panic on the horse and got him into a nice rhythm.”

Although Waller had a slight question over Beiwacht’s ability to run a strong 1,400m, he said time and maturity had helped the impressive colt.

“The 1400m? Yes, but we’ve had confidence that the horse has continued to mature,” the 15-times NSW champion trainer said.

“He hasn’t been doing anything silly, but we’ve noticed he’s got a high cruising speed and a beautiful action – a really economical horse.

“What struck us today is that he was so calm and relaxed.

“Maturity, simple as that, and the horse having confidence as well.

“Time is a great thing and I’ve learned that in the last few years.

“He was a G2 Silver Slipper winner as a two-year-old, now he’s won a stallion-making race.”

Hyeronimus has ridden Beiwacht in seven of his eight starts and has been one of the horse’s biggest fans.

“He deserved that, I always thought he’d win a G1, but to be so dominant like that over seven furlongs was fantastic,” he said.

“When I let him go at the 200m his acceleration was exceptional.

“He wasn’t stopping, he’s a strong horse and he’s got good ability, he was dynamite today.

“It’s a big win for him and his career.”

Waller and the Godolphin team will sit down and plan Beiwacht’s next big spring target, which could be the $20 million The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick, the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1,600m) or the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m) at Flemington.

Waller was coy about the colt’s main mission, but Hyeronimus believed the 1,600m was not an option.

“That’s not my department,” Waller said, with a grin.

“It’s obviously how he fits into a Coolmore, a Guineas or an Everest.

“Three great races that could even put his value through the roof.”

Hyeronimus said: “I probably don’t think 1,600m because he’s too brilliant, and if something goes wrong it would be a disaster for him.

“He ticked the (G1) box today, so whatever Chris and the team decide to do with him, he’ll be still winning good races.”