From Racing Post in Hong KongDarren Beadman waited until the 11th hour but ultimately came down on the side of youth in choosing to partner Collection in Sunday's Citi Champions & Chater Cup.Beadman has had weeks to separate Collection and established champion Viva Pataca in the final Group One race for the season but left it until after riding their final gallops at Sha Tin yesterday. And even then it was not clear cut."In the end, it came down to my feeling that the younger horse migh
From Racing Post in Hong Kong
Darren Beadman waited until the 11th hour but ultimately came down on the side of youth in choosing to partner Collection in Sunday's Citi Champions & Chater Cup.
Beadman has had weeks to separate Collection and established champion Viva Pataca in the final Group One race for the season but left it until after riding their final gallops at Sha Tin yesterday. And even then it was not clear cut.
"In the end, it came down to my feeling that the younger horse might have a bit more zip," Beadman (pictured) said last night. "I think he will stay the 2,400 metres well enough and it was also a decision made with one eye to the future.
"We think Collection could be the sort of horse that could travel to Australia and be competitive in a Cox Plate, so naturally I'd like to try to stick with him."
Beadman admits to an uncomfortable feeling of dread and surrendering the ride on the mighty stayer was not done lightly.
"I rode him in his final gallop and he went like clockwork. He feels terrific, no different than he has for most of the season and almost identical to the way he felt before the QE II [Cup]. He's very fit. When he pulled up he would not have blown a candle out," Beadman said of the work with owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun's other expensive private purchase, Viva Macau."