THIS “BANDIT” HAS RESPONDED TO A WOMAN’S TOUCH

MEET the four-year-old racehorse who was too unruly to be sold as a yearling – and has responded to a woman’s touch!

That’s yesterday’s $51 ($81 was bet) Newcastle winner Beau Bandit, who has now won two of his only four starts for Newcastle trainer Tanya Randell.

Given a flawless ride by Louise Day (no one could have ridden him any better was Randell’s high praise), the Brazen Beau four-year-old gelding upset his more fancied rivals in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) to take his home track record to two wins and a second from three starts.

Day had him quickly out of an inside stall, then took a sit behind Cool Storm ($7) and Wangi Wangi ($13).

She had to wait until Wangi Wangi began to weaken in the straight, then pushed Beau Bandit through.

He hit the front and gamely held out Aligned ($9), with Cool Storm battling on well for third.

Braebrook Thoroughbreds Max Porlezza bred Beau Bandit, and had intended to sell him at the Gold Coast two years ago.

“As luck would have it, fortunately for me the sale didn’t proceed,” Randell said this evening en route home from Broadmeadow.

“He was too naughty and couldn’t be scoped, hence he wasn’t eligible to be offered for sale.”

That’s when close friend Marty Roberts came into the picture.

“Marty is my daughter’s godfather and, after speaking with Max, he rang to see if I was interested in taking the horse,” Randell explained.

“Being such a well-bred horse (his sire Brazen Beau won two Group 1s at Flemington, and dam Mean Louise is a daughter of fellow Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s 2005 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Stratum), I spoke with my partner Mal Ollerton (Kris Lees’ foreman) and decided to give him a try.

“Max kept 25 per cent, and Mal and myself took the rest and brought Marty in as well with 25 per cent.”

Randell’s immediate goal was to get Beau Bandit’s confidence.

“I took my time and didn’t push him,” Randell said.

“It was all about letting him think he was in charge.

“I did a lot of work with him and he still has his quirks, but basically is a kind horse.”

Randell said she didn’t intend giving Beau Bandit his first start when he won a 900m Maiden Handicap at $14 at home on April 1.

“He beat four others in an 850m trial on the Beaumont track a few weeks earlier, but was a bit sunburnt and didn’t look all that flash.

“However this race came up and I decided to run him rather than trial him again.”

Having come so far with Beau Bandit for his maiden preparation, Randell gave him a nice break and didn’t start him again until he ran second to Wal’s Me Mate in a 900m Class 1 Handicap at home on a heavy track on August 14.

Beau Bandit then ran eighth in another Class 1 Handicap (1100m) at the Wyong Cup meeting on September 5, but Randell excused that defeat.

“He drew awkwardly and wasn’t comfortable on the tighter track, but his last 600m sectional was really good and he was beaten only two and a half lengths.

“I was surprised he was such big odds today. He was the best horse in the race.”

Understandably, Randell says winning rider Louise Day is her “good luck charm”.

Formerly apprenticed to Kris Lees at Newcastle and now a senior jockey, Day has ridden Beau Bandit in all four starts, and also won twice on Randell’s now retired Gone Viral at double figure odds ($31 at Cessnock in 2018, and $51 at Gosford the following year).

Along with Beau Bandit, Randell has another lightly-raced four-year-old Sammy The Bull in work.

He made his debut over 900m at Newcastle on September 20, and is likely to start next over the same distance there on Tuesday.

As for Beau Bandit, Randell says he has done a terrific job this preparation and may have a few weeks’ break before chasing another win – no doubt at Broadmeadow if she can find another suitable race.

Kris Lees and Wyong’s Nacim Dilmi also were successful at yesterday’s meeting; both ridden by Dylan Gibbons.

Lees won the closer, the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m), with $3.20 favorite Éclair Encore, and Dilmi took the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1850m) with Oceanfront ($5).

Story John Curtis, October 3, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos