Mornington trainer Grahame Begg might take the road less travelled with smart filly Jadzia, which will debut in Saturday’s Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield.
The heatwave conditions and Begg’s not being “entirely happy with the daughter of Ole Kirk saw her miss the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies last weekend, but he is confident she can match it with the better babies around.
“It makes it hard to get to the Blue Diamond, missing that run, but there are plenty of races for a filly like her,” Begg said.
“I think she is up to taking on the boys, and she will run very well.
“She has done everything right so far.
“I’m happy I waited a week because she just wasn’t 100 per cent, and it was so hot, which isn’t a good combination.
“Her work on Tuesday was what we wanted to see, and it’s a good time for her to be going to the races.”
Jadzia is a $4.40 second favourite behind impressive Flemington winner Big Sky, the $1.85 top pick, on Saturday, but has been the medium of good support in the Blue Diamond around the $11 mark.
“It is not ideal for her to get to the Blue Diamond in a timing sense, but she might show she is good enough,” Begg said.
“If we were to go there, it would be off this run and maybe another jumpout, but she has to perform on the weekend.
“She could also end up in Sydney if she shows she is up to it.”
Begg will also take Samangu to Caulfield in search of black type in the Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes after her midfield finish in the Standish Handicap last time out.
“This has been one of the target races for her this preparation, and she gets there ready to peak,” Begg said.
“In the Standish the inside barriers were a curse and she was one of the only ones to show up from the inside.
“She has got the right type of draw for her on Saturday and it is a real chance to get some black type with her.”
Samangu has five of her nine starts and is a $7 hope in an open Group 3 where Aviatress is the $4.60 favourite.
