Trainer Grahame Begg has a big spring ahead of him but the inform stable is hoping for further success during the Queensland winter carnival with She’s A Hustler and Splash Back.
The trainer celebrated Zakouma winning his way into the Melbourne Cup via the Andrew Ramsden Stakes last weekend.
“I sat down and tried to work out what races he will run in on the way to the Cup on Sunday,” Begg said, “He is still on his way up as a stayer that was his first run beyond 2000m.
“We will have to place where he won’t be able to get a penalty, which means She’s A Hustler probably won’t be seeing him in the Caulfield Cup.”
Begg’s long-term target as always been the Caulfield Cup with She’s Hustler and it is why he chose the winter rather than the autumn for her.
She was placed in the Hollindale Stakes behind Pride Of Jenni second-up, and steps out to the 2000m in Saturday’s Doomben Cup, where she is a $6 chance.
“It will be a different race this weekend,” Begg said. “Pride Of Jenni got She’s A Hustler and Half Yours at the right time at the Gold Coast.
“They were second-up and probably not quite ready to chase her with the Doomben Cup and Q22 to come.
“I think my mare is going to be better further they stretch out in trip. We are looking at this trip away as the preparation to tougher her up for a race like the Caulfield Cup.
“We are up there because these races have worked well for spring preparations in the past couple of years.”
Begg is looking at Without A Fight, Knight’s Choice and Half Yours that have won features like the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup using the residual fitness from the winter.
“She is racing against top grade and it will season her for the spring,” Begg said. “When you meet a horse like Pride Of Jenni, it is different type of race. It is only going to make her better.”
Meanwhile, Splash Back, who has already won the Victory Stakes, will next be seen in the Kingsford Smith Cup in a fortnight and Begg has booked champion lightweight jockey Craig Williams to ride her in the Stradbroke.
“Jordie [Childs] won’t be able to make the weight in the Stradbroke, so he will stick with her in the Kingsford Smith Cup,” Begg said. “I wanted to someone booked for the Stradbroke where she should get in well in a handicap.”
