Expected Winter Spell for River Beau

Promising WA 3YO sprinter River Beau (Snippetson-Peggie’s Louise, by Oratorio) will target Group 3 races and bypass the Belmont winter season, according to trainer Bruce Watkins. River Beau secured back-to-back victories at Ascot last Saturday – his third win from five starts this preparation – as he looks to wind up his summer and autumn campaign with a feature race double. “We will be going to the Northam Stakes [in a fortnight], as long as everything is fine,” Watkins said on Tabradio. “If he did well and happen to win there, I would probably look at going towards the Roma Cup (1200m).” There is, however a caveat: “But he would have to go really well or probably win to warrant that because of the ratings system you don’t want to be going into races too far behind the top raters as you would get penalised too much. Because of Watkins’ concerns over the Belmont Park track , River Beau will bypass the upcoming Belmont season. The Snippetson gelding’s one start at winter headquarters was below par when he trailed the field behind Eeyore Wayz last September, with Watkins explaining that none of River Beau’s family have enjoyed success at the Perth circuit. The Northam Stakes (1100m) and the Roma Cup (1200m) at Ascot are run on May 2 and 15 respectively.