Former Kiwi puts Asterix on Australian career in 2025 The Beauford

New Zealand Group One winner Asterix has landed his first Australian win since relocating to Chris Waller’s stable, grinding out a determined victory in the Listed The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle.

The seven-year-old signalled he was closing in on form after a strong fifth in the St Leger (2600m), and from an inside draw on Saturday, he settled prominently and proved too tough late under jockey Jason Collett.

Collett said the preparation had finally come together.

“I thought his run was great the other day in the St Leger,” he said.

“It was just a slow-run race. He led the start before that and it didn’t work one bit, so last start we tried to make sure he did things right, which he did, and he found the line great.

“His trial was good leading into this and when I had the gate today, I was able to use it and put him in a close enough spot which gave us our chance.”

Asterix announced himself early in his career with victory in the 2022 New Zealand Derby (2400m). After lengthy time off and a gradual rebuild, he remains lightly raced with 23 starts.

Collett said the horse’s past achievements show his ability is still there.

“He’s won a Derby, a New Zealand Derby too. He’s got the credentials there and this will no doubt build confidence,” he said.

The $14 chance finished a length clear of stablemate God’s Window ($4.40 favourite), with Future History ($6.50) running third.

Stable representative Zane Jones said the team always believed the gelding would eventually reproduce his best.

“He was a good horse in New Zealand before coming to Australia. We never lost faith in the horse, it was just a matter of turning up, getting things to go his way and today, it did,” Jones said.

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