Beale was driving Game Lad in the 1972 Waikouaiti Cup and had worked to the lead before some rubbish blew across the track causing his horse to gallop.
Game Lad recovered to finish fifth behind Adios Adieu, and later went on to compete at the top level in the United States, but the Waikouaiti Cup was finally in the hands of Beale and his wife, Maureen, yesterday.
Graduate Under Fire is always a factor in standing start races thanks to his fantastic manners. Those were again to the fore yesterday and the veteran of 81 starts stepped away to lead before handing up to favourite Quick As A Trick.‘‘Manners are key - that's half the race, isn't it?'' Beale said.‘‘He ran home really good - to beat that other horse, which is a really good horse. He dead-heated in the Marlborough Cup and won the Waikouaiti Cup, so it's really super.''Graduate Under Fire was patiently driven by John Dunn, who looks after the team of his father, Robert, at Woodend Beach.
Beale will again be back at the sales this year with two yearlings, having prepared horses for the sales for more than 40 years.
All looked forlorn for Semper Fidelis in race 4 after his bad manners caused him to be sent to the unruly mark.
However, the move - along with the removal of a boring pole by driver Matthew Williamson - worked a treat, as he stepped cleanly and took up the lead with 1400m to break maidens at his 13th start.‘‘He just fought the pole at the start, so Matty has taken it off and he's been sent to the unruly,'' co-trainer Geoff Knight said.‘‘But it turned out to be the best thing, actually. Matt said he steered perfectly without it, so maybe we've learned something.''Mosgiel trainer Darryn Simpson learned nothing new from American Spirit's win in the c2-c3 pace - he already knew the 4yr-old is a very promising pacer.‘‘He's a pretty classy horse - he's going to be something,'' Simpson said.‘‘I always thought he was as good as what I've had and as good as what I've had to do with.''Yesterday's win over Boomer Bailey was his third from four starts, and his first appearance on a grass track.‘‘The only time he's seen grass is when he's eating it,'' Simpson said.
Simpson and owner Garry Clarke had been thinking about a spell, but the manner of the gelding's win might have them thinking again.‘‘We thought we might give him a let-up, but he's going so good. He's doing everything in his stride and he pulls up good; he's just a pleasure.''
