Just a week after his much-loved flag-bearer Red Can Man was retired, Yarradale Stud stallion Gingerbread Man unearthed a debut winner who can develop into another black-type galloper of the future.

His 2yo colt Beatty looked up to that level after being backed into an odds-on favourite to win the Magic Millions Plate (1100m) on Saturday.  Unbeaten colt All On Red (Doubtland) looked home for a hat-trick when he levelled up to front-runner Kute As Kan Be (Acrobat) at the furlong but had no answer when Willie Pike lifted Beatty in the final 50 metres.

Beatty is a homebred for Gingerbread Man fan Wally Daly and was one of his three starters saddled up by trainers Sean and Jake Casey at Ascot.  And he was the one that attracted support once Pike was booked for the ride ahead of One Last Resort (Tassort) and Brave Ego (Brave Smash).

“All three have been competitive working together at home but he was my pick,” Sean admitted.  “He’s a nuggetty type with plenty of scope and is well-bred being a half-brother to Camera Action.  He’s a colt and still playful but showed stamina today and is definitely not a one-trick pony.”

Gingerbread Man sired him from Femmette (Murtajill) who won a Westspeed 2YO Plate at Ascot and she foaled another Gingerbread Man colt in August.

Femmette’s half-brother Charleton Eddie (Shooting To Win) was a black-type performer in Daly’s Hot Pink and Royal Blue checked silks as was second-dam Refemme (Surtee) who won the LR Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) in 2004.

Third-dam Guinevere (Agincourt) was a $16,000 buy for Daly and his late brother George, a Group 1 winning trainer in 1981 with Little Imagele, at an Inglis Sydney Yearling Sale in 1997.

Meanwhile, trainer Steve Wolfe announced Red Can Man had run his last race not long after an unplaced run in the $1 million Golden Saddle (1200m) in Kalgoorlie.  “We would like to wish our stable star Red Can Man a very happy and well-deserved retirement.  He’s been one of our top horses for a number of years flying the flag from here in Western Australia all the way to Victoria.”

Red Can Man (9g Gingerbread Man – Brocky’s Ace by Surtee) was bred by Ellie Giles and was a $50,000 graduate out of the Western Breeders Alliance draft (as agent) at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions.  He went on to bank prizemoney of $1.6 million including Westspeed Bonuses of $277,000.

He bows out with a Group 3 in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) in Melbourne and Listed victories in the Fairetha Stakes (1400m), H G Bolton Sprint (1200m) and R S Crawford Stakes (1000m) in Perth.  “We couldn’t be any more proud of what he has achieved not only for us but for his connections as well,” Wolfe added.  “He will now enjoy his days continuing to live the luxury life.  Happy retirement Champ!”

Yarradale Stud is standing Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) and Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) for $5,500 fees (inc GST) this season.   For all enquiries contact Davy Hanratty (0429 336 904).

Beatty wins on debut at Ascot / Photo: Western Racepix