THIS BANDIT WAS AN UNDERRATED “SMOKEY” INDEED

IT was definitely meant to be!

Newcastle trainer Tanya Randell was back in the winning list for the first time in nearly two years at her home track today with a debutante who virtually came to her because nobody else wanted him.

Three-year-old Beau Bandit, a son of dual Flemington Group 1 winner Brazen Beau (2014 Coolmore Stud Stakes and 2015 Newmarket Handicap), won the Maiden Handicap (900m) at $14.

Though slow into stride, Beau Bandit soon picked up and took full advantage of his inside draw to chase Exolent Choice ($4.80) before taking over in the straight.

Even though he raced greenly, he was still too good for fancied pair Oakfield Mars ($3.90) and $2.80 favorite The Way Ahead.

Former jockey Randell had tearfully put down her eight-year-old dog Beau because of a tumour about two years ago when close friend Marty Roberts rang her a few weeks later with the offer of a horse.

“Marty is my daughter’s godfather and said Beau Bandit’s owner wanted to know if I was interested in having a try with him,” Randell said en route home this afternoon.

“He had been a very naughty horse and no one wanted anything to do with him.

“I said yes because I knew I would never get another chance to train such a well-bred horse.

“The owner kept 25 per cent and gave the rest to my partner Mal Ollerton (well-known Newcastle racing identity, a foreman for leading trainer Kris Lees), and we brought Marty in as well as he got the horse for me.”

There is a real Newcastle connection to Beau Bandit as the gelding’s dam Mean Louise is a daughter of trainer Paul Perry’s 2005 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Stratum.

Randell said that whilst there were concerns her newcomer wouldn’t even get on the float to come to her, thankfully he did and arrived safely.

“I think Beau Bandit hated people,” she said.

“For the first three months, I had him in the yard and didn’t ask him to do anything.

“I took my time looking after him, and he responded.

“Eventually, he gained the confidence to trust me and is now a very kind horse.”

Randell didn’t have to search far to find a name for her “out of the blue” acquisition.

“Mal and I were watching the movie ‘Smokey and the Bandit’, and the Bandit’s name was Bo,” she explained.

“Mal said: ‘There’s your name for the horse’.”

Randell gave Beau Bandit only one 850m trial, which he won against four rivals on the Beaumont track on March 5, and decided to start him today rather than trial him again.

She gave the mount to senior jockey Louise Day, who earlier was apprenticed to Kris Lees, as she regards her as a “good luck charm”.

“Louise won a couple of races for me a few years back on Gone Viral at big odds at Cessnock and Gosford,” Randell said.

“She came up to me after the Beaumont trial and said Beau Bandit had trialled well, and I promised her the ride when he started.”

Randell’s previous winner was Silica Sand (Ben Osmond) at $26 at Tamworth on June 9, 2023.

“I’ve got five horses in work and can’t have any more as both Mal and myself are working,” Randell said.

“I’m based in the control centre at Broadmeadow railway station for ARTC (Australian Rail Track Corporation), and today was one of my days off.”

Fellow Newcastle trainers Kris Lees and David Atkins also were successful at their home track today as they both seek to win Saturday’s Group 1 Inglis Sires (1400m) at Royal Randwick on the opening day of The Championships.

Lees, who clinched a double with Flame Of Hestia ($2.80) and Lutetia ($1.85) – both ridden by Andrew Gibbons – has luckless Golden Slipper fourth Rivellino (Hugh Bowman) in the Sires, and Atkins, who took the closer with $12 chance Rockbarton Angel, ridden by apprentice William Stanley, has Buffalo, a Zac Purton mount.

Ten two-year-olds accepted for the $1m Sires, where Buffalo drew barrier four and Rivellino barrier six.

Gosford’s Greg McFarlane tackles the $2m Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) with Kosuke, who drew barrier nine in a capacity field of 18 plus five emergencies.

Ash Morgan will ride The Autumn Sun three-year-old.

Jedibeel (Craig Williams) will be leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s representative in the $3m Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m). He drew barrier eight in a field of 14.

Story John Curtis, April 2, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos