They were at opposite ends of the saddlecloth order, which reflected where they are at in their careers. The emerging star – She’s A Hustler – ran down the seasoned WFA warrior Light Infantry Man to claim a stirring Zipping Classic.
A firm favourite, She’s A Hustler was tackling weight-for-age for the first time after being kept to mares races throughout the spring.
She handled the rise in grade with authority, stretching past a gallant Light Infantry Man in the shadows of the post to further embellish her already outstanding record.
Zipping Classic I She’s A Hustler
She’s A Hustler, she’s a good horse ⭐️ @Grahame_Begg‘s mare prevails in a battle of attrition in the Zipping Classic.
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/roPTqjKuVC— Racing.com (@Racing) November 29, 2025
Few trainers in Australia can match Grahame Begg’s strike rate. Despite operating a smaller team than many of his big-race counterparts, he consistently turns out high-quality gallopers, and this daughter of Victoria Derby winner Ace High looks bound for Group 1 company.
Begg stressed the significance of Saturday’s test – her first attempt at 2400m.
“Today was going to be a big hurdle for her to work out where we are going to place her next year and how we go about it. It’s all about next spring. She’s going to be a six-year-old, so that was what it was all about, ticking that box today.”
A Caulfield Cup tilt now looms as a logical target.
“You have to have those ambitions. She’s a beauty, a winning machine. She’s never finished further back than second in 11 starts, seven wins. How good’s that?”
The Queensland Winter Carnival has proven a superb springboard into Melbourne’s staying features — Half Yours, Incentivise and Without A Fight all campaigned there before winning major Cups. Begg is weighing up a similar path.
“We may go to Brisbane for one or two runs up there, something like the Q22 and then back down here. The Q22 is a great race and it sets them up for the spring.”
Jordan Childs, who has partnered many of Begg’s big-race winners, also overcame a midweek scare.
“He knows how to ride my horses,” said Begg.
“He’s got a good understanding and we work well together. To be truthful, he wasn’t going to be riding this week because he injured his wrist earlier in the week. His wrist settled down and he was able to take his rides.”
