Born and raised in Canberra, Peter Beauman got hooked on horses when his parents sent him to a riding camp aged 12. 
He joined pony club, where he competed with success in eventing, then on leaving school he headed to Queensland to take up a job as a jackaroo. 
He stayed a year before leaving to undertake a two-year Diploma in Horse Management course at the University of New England. While there he resumed competing in the sport of three-day eventing, reaching “one star” level.
Having completed his diploma, Beauman went into business breaking in horses. 
It was this that attracted him to the thoroughbred  industry and led to him accepting a stud management position in the southern highlands of NSW. 
He spent 12 years in that position before making the decision to branch out on his own. He purchased Carrington Park Stud, a 100-acre (40Ha) property just outside Robertson, initially operating it as a spelling farm. 
A friend then offered him a stallion, Roadhog, to stand. He stood that stallion for four years, making many new friends and gaining some loyal clients. 
Among those clients were the proprietors of Waratah Thoroughbreds, who own the stallion London Bridge. 
As a result of that connection, London Bridge was sent to Carrington Park Stud, joining resident sire Sheer Talent, who Beauman had purchased himself. 
While this season will be London Bridge’s second, Sheer Talent will be in his third season and already has progeny on the ground.
Beauman does the bulk of the work on the stud himself. 
“I just love the breeding industry and love the work,” he said. “I do have two great girls who help me out part-time. 
“It’s a tough game. A good businessman and friend told me when I started that, like any new business, I’d either sink or swim in five years. 
“I’ve been in business here now for 12 years, so I’d like to think I’m swimming. 
“It’s very hard trying to compete against the big Hunter Valley studs, but I believe there’s a niche market there with small breeders looking for well bred stallions at an affordable price. 
“I think with the two stallions we’re standing, we can meet that demand.” 
Fab fires
Gai Waterhouse’s unfailingly optimistic outlook was vindicated at Hawkesbury last Saturday when Fabrizio ($9) staged a form reversal to take out the Group 3 Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).
Fabrizio, whom Waterhouse trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, led all the way under Jason Collett.
“We were disappointed first up, but he had a big weight on a wet track, so we just had to put that behind us,” said Waterhouse. 
On a dry track, Collett had no hesitation in going straight to the front and allowing his mount to bowl along. 
“As we were going out to the start, Fabrizio gave me a good feel and I knew he was ready to run a race today,” Collett said. 
“He’s a classy horse and travelled well for me throughout. He’s very tough too. When they went for him at the furlong (200m), he really dug deep.” 
Fabrizio scored by a length from Spectroscope with Testashadow third. The five-year-old has now won eight of his 14 starts.
Shazee shines
Local trainer Scott Singleton enjoyed the biggest win of his career at the Hawkesbury meeting when Shazee Lee, ridden by Jay Ford, charged through inside the 200-metre mark to take the Group 3 Blacktown Workers Club Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).
Shazee Lee ($51) claimed Prompt Response right on the line to score by a neck, with the strong-finishing Salsonic just a short half-head away in third place.
The three-year-old filly is owned by Max Kowalczuk and his wife, which added to the thrill for Singleton. 
“When I got my trainer’s licence when I was twenty, he (Max) was there and he’s been with me all the way through,” Singleton said. 
“He’s always had one or two with me and it’s hard to find loyalty like that these days. 
“I’ve been here my whole life and to win a race on this day is a great feeling, especially for Max.”
Not all went according to plan, however, with Shazee Lee missing the start and settling last. 
Ford saved ground along the rails before easing across heels, getting his mount to the outside and launching his challenge. 
“He rode her perfectly,” said Singleton. “She has only got that furlong sprint and got there without doing anything. I knew she would finish it off like that.” 
Felines hangs on
The Guineas wasn’t the only Hawkesbury feature to fall to a provincial stable, with the Kris Lees-trained Felines taking the Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m).
Ridden by leading jockey Hugh Bowman, Felines ($4.20) fought on doggedly after hitting the front near the 200-metre mark to defeat dead-heaters That’s a Good Idea and Palazzo Pubblico.
“This is as far as she wants,” Lees said following the win. “She was going to win by a good length halfway down the straight. She was only able to hold on by a half-length, but that’s all you need to do to win.”  
Bowman said Felines needs things to go her way, especially at 1100 metres.
“She is probably more effective at 1000 metres, but she got a nice run from the inside draw and was too good,” he said.
Felines will now go to the Scone Cup carnival (May 12-13).
Prince reigns
After feature wins to Hawkesbury and Newcastle stables on the Saturday, it was Gosford’s turn on Sunday when the Tony Newing-trained Timeless Prince won the Corey’s Catering Tamworth Cup (1400m). 
Timeless Prince ($13) was ridden from the outside barrier (14) by comeback jockey Josh Adams, who earlier in the month had won the Gentleman Rider (21-40) title at the Royal Sydney Show. 
“All I needed was a bit of luck on the turn,” Adams said. 
Newing said the Scone carnival’s Country Cup was on the agenda for Timeless Prince.
“The slow pace probably helped him today,” said Newing. 
“He’ll now go to the Country Cup at Scone.”