Grahame Begg left Randwick on the second day of The Championships last month, without a winner and didn’t even have place getter, but he had a smile.
Splash Back had stormed late after a checked passage in the Sapphire Stakes, and although it read seventh on the results, Begg knew it was better than that.
She’s A Hustler had warmed up late in Idle Flyer’s Queen Of The Turf, getting past Pride Of Jenni close to the post to finish fourth.
“I walked out knowing they were going as well as what I had seen at home,” Begg said. “I knew we would be right in Queensland.”
Splash Back confirmed that view with a rails-hugging Victory Stakes win last weekend and She’s A Hustler gets her chance to further her reputation in the Hollindale Stakes at Gold Coast on Saturday.
“It wasn’t a surprise Splash Back to me,” Begg said. “She’s been going great all preparation, and now we can look for a Group 1 with her.
“I’ll probably wait for the Kingsford-Smith Stakes with her then decide between the Stradbroke, Dane Ripper or Tatt’s Tiara. She will get a couple of chances at a big one.
“She’s A Hustler is the same and has kept going in the right direction, it’s the Hollindale, Doomban Cup and Q22, a four-race campaign where she will get better and better.”
The ultimate goal for She’s A Hustler will be a Caulfield Cup, but Begg feels she will make her mark in Queensland.
“Jordie [Childs] jumped on her [on Tuesday] morning up there and he was very impressed,” Begg said.
“She is a quality mare, who we gave a little more time off to target these races in Queensland and it looks like it is going to work.
“She was only just getting going late at Randwick and ran past Pride Of Jenni and with a better run, probably runs a place.
“She is going to be better suited at the 1800m and she will be finding the line.
“Hopefully she does a Splash Back, but I have a lot of respect for this field because it is fairly strong.”
