'sly' Olsen To Stall Darren's Bid For Moore
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday April 5, 1996
Surely there are few serious "contact sports" in which one as "mature" as Larry Olsen would be given a chance against one at the peak of his powers like Darren Beadman.
Olsen rode his first winner at Gatton on September 25, 1963. Beadman was born two and a bit years later on November 17, 1965. Olsen was already 15 years old.
In a long and distinguished career, Olsen has ridden against the best, and earned their respect.
"George Moore and Lester Piggott were my picks (as his best), but even Mick Dittman didn't ride any better than Darren is at present," Olsen said yesterday.
"Great jockeys can adapt to any circumstances, and that is evident with Darren ...
"He's got a nice disposition, and responds to people. Horses respond to him and he's not a smartarse in races."
Beadman is in the middle of an outstanding season, and has already won seven Group 1 events - the elite - with more on the way.
And of course he is riding the favourites in today's major events at Randwick, including Octagonal in what promises to be an epic Derby also featuring Saintly and Nothin' Leica Dane.
His other major ride will be Juggler, the favourite for the classic Doncaster Handicap.
With any luck this season he should top double figures on the Group 1 winners' list, which would put him in fine company.
The great jockey George Moore rode 17 Group 1 winners in the 1957-58 season, while Malcolm Johnston won 15 in 1979-80.
Like Beadman, both had the benefit of being around at the same time as a batch of outstanding three-year-olds, with Moore doing most of the work on the great Tulloch, and Johnston on Kingston Town.
Beadman's immediate target is to beat other exceptional Group 1 efforts from jockeys like Jim Cassidy (9), Darby Munro, Ted Bartle, Mick Dittman, Damien Oliver and Bill Cook, who all rode eight in a season.
After the Randwick carnival is over, Beadman has Adelaide races and the Brisbane winter carnival to help build on his tally.
With Octagonal today, Beadman will be attempting to do what Kingston Town and Tulloch did in the AJC Derby - win it.
But Olsen, a canny tactician, doesn't believe the Octagonal-Beadman combination will get it easy.
"Octagonal has drawn barrier five, outside Mick (Dittman on Filante), and Mick won't be making it easy for him," he said.
"My bloke (Peep On The Sly) has three, and I'll drop in behind them."
But Peep On The Sly has one problem.
"The bloody fireworks at the Royal Easter Show have been keeping him awake at night," Olsen said.
Now that's a word Beadman, a born-again Christian, doesn't use.
SEVEN DOWN TEN TO GO
The Races Beadman Needs To Win
AJC Australian Derby - Octagonal.
Doncaster - Juggler.
Sires Produce - Babu's Boy.
Galaxy - Sword.
Sydney Cup -Beaux Art.
AJC Oaks - Saleous.
All-Aged Stakes - (hopefully) Mahogany.
Champagne Stakes - (possibly) Babu's Boy.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes - open to offers.
Plus eight Group One events at the Brisbane Winter carnival and five at the Adelaide Cup carnival.
MOST GROUP ONE WINS FOR SEASON George Moore 17 1957-58 Malcolm Johnston 15 1979-80 Neville Sellwood 14 1959-60 Roy Higgins 11 1974-75 John Marshall 11 1987-88 Michael Clarke 10 1989-90
© 1996 Sydney Morning Herald
