Perfect World puts Beasley in business

Anyone would have guessed by the smile on the face of jockey Danny Beasley after a Class Three winner at Happy Valley last night that he had added another Group One classic to his recent wins in two of Australia's major races.

Beasley took home the world's richest two-year-old race two months ago and the biggest mile in the southern hemisphere the following week, but saved his biggest grin until after Round The World scored a hollow victory. 'It's just so great to get off the mark here,' Beasley said. 'I know I've been riding OK since I got here but just haven't had the right horses on the day.'

That all changed as the Lawrie Fownes-trained Round The World turned his form around and gave owner Lee Kai-lun a thrill that Fownes was not sure he was ready to handle. 'I'm really pleased for the guy because he's just recovering from heart surgery and this is his first night back at the races,' Fownes said. 'Before the race, I told him just to treat the horse as a place chance and I was a bit worried the win might even set him back.'

Round The World found himself in the unaccustomed role of leader on a track heavily favouring inside draws and leaders and Beasley was able to kid to the gelding that he was just out for a track gallop. 'Lawrie said to just ride him wherever he was comfortable and he absolutely flew the gates,' the jockey said. 'When he did that and found himself in front, it was a huge advantage on the night and he relaxed and was quite happy. I rode him work the other morning and I noticed he seemed to enjoy his work when he was able to roll along like that, so it really suited him.'

Fownes said he had often contributed to the first wins of new riders and got a lot of pleasure out of giving Beasley his 'maiden' win. 'There have been plenty of these guys come along that we've given their first win. You know what a tough place this is to break the ice, so I'm pleased for Danny,' he said. 'The only worry I have is that the handicapper will take too much notice of the margin on the biased track. Round The World has struggled all season down to this mark and now that he's won with so much in his favour, he will probably go all the way up again in one go.'

The meeting was just as notable for the debut win of Sean Woods' Recovery, who gave Robbie Fradd the first half of a winning double in the fourth.

'We came here with a few worries,' Woods said of the Kashani gelding. 'It was the C course, a wet track and the first time he's been to Happy Valley.'