Lee Van Den Bos has referred to Beau Hoffa as “the giant-killer” in the past but that nickname no longer suits after yet another class showing from the Orange-trained five-year-old.
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Beau Hoffa made it two wins from his past three starts on Monday, taking out the annual Reeve Wheeler Memorial Open Handicap (1310m) at Dubbo Turf Club thanks to a peach of a ride from apprentice Courtney Van Der Werf.
The win made it five from 25 career starts and continues a stellar preparation, which has included a crack at the Country Championships, victory in the Soliders Saddle at Bathurst and a placing in the Parkes Cup.
“He’s a good horse and puts the sectionals in,” she said.
“I’m really pleased with him. He’s been very good this time and he seems to be enjoy being in the stable.
“We’ll see how he goes when he comes back in the next week or so and if he keeps going then he keeps going.”
The Reeve Wheeler Memorial was Beau Hoffa’s sixth start this preparation, though there was five-week freshen up from early March, and he produced a fine run at Dubbo.
From barrier 11, the widest in the field, Van Der Werf got across expertly well early and settled in fourth before moving forward behind leading Dubbo-based pair Oskastar ($7.50) and Our Sarastro ($20), trained by Garry Lunn and Connie Greig respectively.
Oskastar led the field into the bend for home but Beau Hoffa ($3 favourite) loomed in the middle of the track while Wild Cavalier ($8) and Artistic Beauty ($5.50) also began to threaten down the outside.
But the in-form Beau Hoffa proved far too strong, hitting the line well and winning by three-quarter-of-a-length from the Gayna Williams-trained Wild Cavalier while Oskastar hung on for third.
“I was nervous but Courtney rode him just as I told her so I was very happy with that and he always run well for her,” Van Den Bos, who also works as a full-time nurse, said.
“She (Van Der Werf) follows instructions and that’s all you can ask for, a jockey who follows instructions and she always rides them to the line and that’s a big thing for an owner and a trainer.
“That can be the difference between $200 and $300 and that might not be much but it’s a big thing when you’re paying the bills.”
Van Den Bos had stated in the lead-up to Monday’s event it had been “a juggling act” to find a race for Beau Hoffa given his rating and that certain to rise from 65 after the win at Dubbo.
The Orange trainer stated a trip to a provincial track could be on the cards in the near future, depending on how her much-loved gelding pulls up after the victory in the coming days.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
