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By Ray Hickson

Boom colt Beadman has definitely returned ‘bigger’ and that’s what trainer Peter Snowden is most wary of ahead of his long awaited spring kick off at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The three-year-old stamped himself as a potential star with his eight length Group 3 win at the Gold Coast back in May and Snowden said the fact he has developed so much could make him vulnerable the Listed $200,000 Petaluma Heritage Stakes (1100m).

But that’s also why he sent James McDonald out with a mission to give the horse a solid hitout in winning his second barrier trial just over a week ago.

“I’m really happy with him, he’s had a good prep and been in work for quite a while. His trials have been good and I’m happy with his work,’’ Snowden said.

“He’s a much bigger version of himself, he’s really furnished. That’s great to see but there’s a lot of bulk there.

“That’s the only thing I’m little nervous of, that he’s not fully screwed down because his grand final is a fair way off.

“I asked (James) in that second trial to put him under race conditions, just shake him up the last 100m and make him brush home.

“He’s had a lot of work but there’s nothing better than races to get him rock hard fit.”

Beadman, $3.80 with TAB on Wednesday, served notice of his talent with a runaway win in the Ken Russell on a heavy track at his third start and talk of setting him for the TAB Everest followed.

Snowden was quick to rule that out and Newgate, who is in the colt’s ownership, has locked in Overpass for the $20 million sprint.

The Heritage has proven to be a springboard to Beadman’s main aim of the Coolmore Stud Stakes, run on November 1, via Ozzmosis (2023) and Home Affairs (2021) in recent years and Snowden’s Wild Ruler won the race in 2020 before finishing third at Flemington.

He’s adamant the colt doesn’t need to lead to win his races, as he’s done in his two wins, but feels he’ll have to make use of his speed to offset a tricky barrier.

“He’s still learning to be fair. In his first start he got back and ran on, his second run he led and third run he led,’’ he said.

“I don’t think he’s a dead set leader but we’ll definitely go forward, it’s too wide a gate to be too pretty on him.

“I’m sure there’ll be another string to his bow, though, I don’t think he’ll be a one dimensional horse.

“And I don’t fear a good track, he just has that extra bonus of being able to handle a wet track.”

While all eyes will be on Beadman, Snowden warns not to undersell stablemate Akaysha in the Heritage as she does hold a decision over the colt from their clash on debut in April.

The filly has notched two stakes placings since then including a first-up second at Flemington two weeks ago where the trainer said a bit of inexperience worked against her.

“She’s had a run, she’s got a good gate and no weight on her back,’’ he said.

“A fast run race will suit her as well. Her first-up run was excellent, greenness beat her the other day at Flemington, she didn’t now exactly what it was all about but it was still a good effort.

Beadman wins a Randwick trial on September 16

“She’s a good filly in her own right.”

Peter Snowden on Unspoken (race 9): “He’s been a while out of the winner’s circle but it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him come back to somewhere near his best this preparation. He had some lung issues, he was getting colds, but this time in we are right on top of him and he’s been really good. We know he’s a talented horse if he can bring his best to the track.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Golden Rose meeting at Rosehill