DARREN Beadman rode his first Hongkong treble at rain-lashed Sha Tin yesterday - and his timing could not have been better.
Beadman's treble, which won't be his last, helped propel John Moore into a commanding position at the top of the trainers' standings.
It also smoothed over any potential difficulties in Beadman's relationship with Moore following the announcement that the brilliant Australian jockey will almost certainly be riding for Neville Begg next season.
There is a lot of ''face'' involved in a trainer losing a jockey of Beadman's calibre to another.
But there is even more ''face'' in being the champion and Moore looks odds-on to make it three titles in succession which would be a remarkable feat in a vibrant racing scene which is become more and more competitive as each season passes.
Beadman scored on Moore's pair, the well classified Super Falcon and the improving Jollity in the day's second and fourth events, before completing his treble when Lawrie Fownes' Money Spinner slogged his way to the line to pip King Wongchoy in a modest sixth event.
