Last Thursday night Beeston took out his repechage heat of the two-year-old colts and geldings Australasian Breeders Crown Series (2,240 metres) at Melton, ensuring he remains in contention for this Sunday’s rich final.

If the Peter Trevor-Jones The Lagoon trained colt were to win there, it would add to his Group One victory at the Bathurst Paceway in March’s Gold Crown final.

Despite guiding the Art Major (USA) x Erin Jean colt to victory in that $100,000 race, driver John O’Shea and Beetson were considered $12.10 chances going from barrier six at Tabcorp Park, Melton last week.

Instead the bookies favourite was Nathan Jack driven Attackmach ($1.80) with Ronald George ($2.50) from barrier one the only other starter in single figure odds.

However, Beetson is no rookie when it comes to defying the odds to claim victory after he won his Gold Crown heat this year as a $20.60 chance and the Gold Crown final at $20.20.

In the first repechage all looked to be going to plan for punters as Attackmach started well from barrier five to lead the field through a 63.3 seconds first half (32.3, 31), with O’Shea happy to place Beetson outside the leader.

When the bell sounded, O’Shea began to apply extra pressure to Attackmach, taking the lead and completing the third quarter in 28.2 seconds.

As they entered the final straight it was clear the race favourite had nothing left in the tank as Beetson came home in 28.2 to claim victory with a mile rate of 2:00.4. Attackmach dead-heated for second with the Rita Burnett trained and driven Indi Bapu ($27.90).

Trevor-Jones, who is remaining in Melbourne as the annual series develops, was ecstatic with the result.

“Delighted is probably an understatement, I certainly wasn’t expecting that one,” he said.

“We we had the favourite out in front and we were running in the death seat, I thought the best we could do was third.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting him to produce his best run from there.”

Thursday night’s win now takes Beetson’s record to five wins and five places from 12 starts for a total earnings of $80,090.

Unfortunately for The Lagoon’s Amanda and Steve Turnbull, O’Shea’s win was not a sign of things to come for them in the same two-year-old colts and geldings repechages.

Driving Veracity Red ($1.80 favourite) Amanda Turnbull placed third – one spot off qualifying for the semi-finals – as Cullen Bromac ($3.80) blew the field apart with a mile rate of 1:59.6 to beat High Five Mozza ($5.60) by a metre.

In the third repechage, Im Blue Double Dee ($7.60) and Turnbull looked to take the race from the second row but after making contact with the marker pegs, finished sixth, more than 10 metres behind General Bronski ($1.50 favourite) with a mile rate of 2:02.8.

Beetson will now progress to the semi-finals of the Breeders Crown Series on Friday with the final on Sunday.

“The semi-finals are not as cut throat as the heats as we only have to be in the top five,” Trevor-Jones said.

“In saying that, it will be a step up and it will depend a lot on what barrier we draw.”