Latest news with #GrahameBegg
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Grahame Begg shifts focus to Nonconformist at Flemington after Zloties' untimely injury ends Group 1 swan song
Trainer Grahame Begg has cancelled a swan song Queensland Group 1 mission for Zloties. Group 2 winner Zloties was going to be retired after the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 28 but an injury setback brought forward the plans for life after racing. Zloties, a $15 chance in early Tatt's Tiara markets, won five of nine career starts including the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) for owner-breeder Jonathan Munz. 'She's retired,' Begg said. 'She's not heading north … she's heading to the breeding barn.' Meanwhile, Begg has Nonconformist set for a Benchmark 100 at Flemington on Saturday. Nonconformist has a big weight and wide draw but Begg said 2000m distance would suit the rising nine-year-old. 'He ran well (first-up in Adelaide), we're happy with him,' Begg said. 'He actually raced like he wanted 2000m in the mile race. 'He's trained on well, so we're very happy.' Nonconformist is $6.50 second favourite from hat-trick candidate Liberami, up in grade from a Benchmark 84 last start. Nonconformist, a $2.3m prizemoney earner, has performed consistently albeit without a win since the 2023 Group 2 Blamey Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. The evergreen Rebel Raider gelding has raced exclusively in stakes' grade since 2020. 'He's conceding a good bit of weight under the conditions, in a Benchmark 100,' Begg said. 'A couple horses have 53kg in the race, conceding six kilos to a few but we're happy.' Begg said Nonconformist would be freshened after Saturday and prepare for the spring. 'The idea was to give him one or two runs, back off him and come up again for the spring,' Begg said. 'We won't have any major, lofty goals, races like (the Coongy) suit him.' Begg confirmed Listed Bel Esprit Stakes winner Niance is in the paddock, with spring targets in mind for the smart sprint mare, while Splash Back, who also won at Caulfield last Saturday, would head to Flemington on June 21 in a 1400m fillies and mares Benchmark 90.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner's follow and forgive files from Caulfield
FIVE TO FOLLOW No match for top two but best work late. Travelled nicely behind the speed before a flat spot around the bend and lost ground. Once clear again inside the last 75m worked through his gears again. Bring on 1400m next start. SALTY PEARL (1st) and MILLENNIUM BLADE (2nd) impressed, especially runner-up forced to do the donkey work early outside the leader and bloused only late with a big gap to third. Salty Pearl gets out late & picks up speed down the straight to take out the opener at Caulfield & her maiden victory ðŸ'¥ @cmaherracing @bennallen44 — (@Racing) May 31, 2025 ILLATIVE (unplaced, Race 2) Did a bit wrong, slow into stride and raced keenly, and then jockey Beau Mertens told stewards the mare made an abnormal respiratory noise post-race. Despite all this, Illative recorded the second best 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m sectionals bettered only by the impressive winner SPLASH BACK. Splash Back gets the cash at Caulfield, a great ride by in form apprentice Tom Prebble @Grahame_Begg @MelbRacingClub — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 STYLISH (unplaced, Race 4) Held up from the 500m and never tested as a result. Won nicely at Bendigo first-up and expected to go on with the job but cluttered up behind traffic, as the tempo slackened at about the 900m, and ended up further back than anticipated. Trial By Press is two from two this preparation! @GregEurell @HoopHouston @MelbRacingClub — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 WATCHME WIN (4th, Race 8 ) Flew home behind fellow South Australian sprinter AVIATRESS to run third and fourth respectively. The Andrew Gluyas-trained Watchme Win recorded the fastest closing sectionals on the card including a 22.06 sec last 400m and 11.25 sec final 200m burst in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes. Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 CAFE MILLENIUM (5th, Race 9) First start for Lindsay Park and suspect the second could be even more fruitful. Next to last in the run and charged home to run fifth, first time the Melbourne way. Plenty of upside and potential. Namesake splits the gap then holds off a fast finishing pack to pick up his second win from his last three starts in the last at Caulfield 🙌 @cmaherracing @jaylahkennedy — (@Racing) May 31, 2025 FORGIVE WONDER KID (unplaced, Race 7) Looking for further? Wide early and rolled forward to settle outside the leader. Travelled nicely and took over around the bend but one-paced. Dublin Journal gives Luke Currie and the Hayes team a double at Caulfield @lindsayparkrace — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 RECOMMENDATION (unplaced, Race 8) Travelled nicely first-up but then held up from the 400m to 250m and then one-paced to the post. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame in the left foreleg. Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 HARD TO CROSS (unplaced, Race 9) First start since June 2024 and raced keenly through the early and middle stages. Held up on the heels of PRANCING SPIRIT (unplaced) late and could not be ridden out fully to the finish. Should benefit immensely from the hitout. Might need another one to blow out the cobwebs but 1600m on a rain-affected track a sweet spot going forward. Namesake splits the gap then holds off a fast finishing pack to pick up his second win from his last three starts in the last at Caulfield 🙌 @cmaherracing @jaylahkennedy — (@Racing) May 31, 2025
News.com.au
5 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Niance returns with dominant win in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield after recovering from mystery skull fracture
Aspiring top class sprinter Niance picked up where she left off last spring – albeit without infected bone fragments in her skull – for a dominant Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m) victory at Caulfield. The Grahame Begg -trained flyer comfortably accounted for race-fit Cleo Cat and Aviatress in her first start back from a mystery cracked skull. Niance was being rested for an Oakleigh Plate campaign when staff discovered the significant injury. 'She cracked her skull and had fragments taken out,' Begg said. 'The problem was we didn't know how she injured herself. She was in the paddock and they found her, she had swelling to her skull. 'There wasn't any sign of any head trauma or anything, we were a bit miffed what happened to her. 'We had to do surgery on her to remove the (infected bone) fragments, once we got all that cleaned up and looked after he very well … she's bounced through it and onwards and upwards.' Niance is back in a big way taking out the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes giving the Begg stable a Caulfield double! @Grahame_Begg @daniel_moor @AceBloodstock â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025 • Niance powered to victory on Saturday, cruised wide in the run and took over quickly in the straight. 'She's a gun,' Begg said after favourite Niance sealed a Caulfield double for the stable. 'Never knows how to run a bad race. 'She was in a good rhythm all the way through, I just said to (jockey) Daniel (Moor) keep it smooth, it doesn't matter if you're wide because … she's got a great will to win this mare. 'I'm sure there's better things in store for her.' Begg has a Group 2 option in Queensland to consider but indicated the Group 3 The Heath 1100 at Caulfield in August could parlay better into the spring with ultimate Group 1 aspirations. Niance has won seven of 11 starts including the past three in stakes' company. • Big Swinger's stunning burst bails out favourite backers 'To be able to bounce back and come through that (injury) … she hasn't missed a beat,' Begg said. 'She gave us all the indication she prepped up really well for today, it was the ideal race for her. 'She's done a good job to come back and do what she has done today.' Moor appreciated the pick-up ride on Niance and nailed the brief. 'She's not a huge horse but she's got a great length of stride,' Moor said. 'In a matter of two strides we'd gone from being two lengths off them to right at them and I just wanted her to harness that in the right way … wanted to give her that balanced up set up to let rip.' Begg's first winner on Saturday's card, Splash Back, was equally impressive, charging to victory in the 1200m Fillies and Mares Benchmark 78.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Comeback mare Niance primed to strike in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield
Group 3-winner Niance could be the beneficiary of a high-pressure Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) on Saturday at Caulfield. The Grahame Begg -trained mare, a six-time winner from 10 starts including Listed and Group 3 races last campaign, has drawn out but should land within striking distance behind the speed. The 1100m sprint is loaded with on-pace horses including Cleo Cat, Recommendation, Midwest, Fickle and Acromantula. 'She's got good gate speed, tactical speed herself,' Begg said. 'She doesn't have to lead to be able to win a race. 'Hopefully she'll get a nice sit on them and give herself every chance. 'She's ticked every box so far.' Niance is a $2.40 favourite from Cleo Cat ($5) and Recommendation ($8). 'It looks a nice race for her,' Begg said. 'A very competitive race, a pretty strong race for this time of year. 'I've seen other years gone by they haven't had full fields.' The 15-horse field on Saturday, following the withdrawal of Pisanello, is the biggest since 2020. Niance has primarily raced in fillies and mares restricted company to date but Begg said the five-year-old could 'take the next step'. 'We'll have to think about things after Saturday, what the right path to go with her,' Begg said. 'There's certainly races like the Monash and Bletchingly stakes … we'll study the programs, how they shape up and go from there. 'She won two stakes races last spring against the mares, so we certainly think highly of her and think she's certainly got the ability to take the next step.' Begg has Splash Back resuming on Saturday in a 1200m Benchmark 78. 'She's a nice mare, a pretty progressive horse,' Begg said. 'She's running at 1200m which will be interesting, it's short of her best distance but it's a nice start off point for her.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Albury, Hawkesbury previews: Legends to combine in bordertown raid
Grand Armee's jockey will combine with Emancipation's trainer at Albury on Tuesday with two lightly-raced prospects both of who are placed to win. Wagga trainer Danny Beasley is honoured with the task of conditioning a handful of gallopers owned and/or bred by the living legend Neville Begg at his Riverina HQ. Two of those, namely Begg-purchase Jato and Begg-bred Donegal Bay, will carry the famous black, white armbands and red cap in their respective missions on Tuesday. First of the pair to step out is Donegal Bay, who was up to recently housed in Melbourne with champion trainer (and Neville's son) Grahame. The Star Witness three-year-old, who has placed at two of his five Victorian starts, makes his NSW debut in today's Albury Plumbing Service Maiden Plate (900m). 'He's in great order as you'd expect of any horse coming out of Grahame's stable, he looks magnificent so I haven't had to do much with him,'' Beasley said. 'Because he is not eligible for those Country Boosted races yet, we were a bit limited in what we could run in. 'He is a big heavy horse and I am just sort of taking the punt that over 900m, he won't have too much time to think about things. 'He'll probably get back off a pretty good and he'll run at them pretty quick late. 'I've kept him fresh and kept him well and I'll have a look at him in a 900m race and win, lose or draw, I'll learn something about him.' Beasley and Begg's second and final runner on Tuesday's Albury program is Jato who has come a long way in a short time. Born and raised at Rosemont Stud in Victoria, Jato opened her current campaign with a second at Wagga on April 13. She followed up with an emphatic win here at Albury 11-days later before an honourable fourth in an uncommonly strong edition of the MTC Wagga Guineas at the start of May. It's a winning debut for Jato at Wagga! ðŸ'� @DanBeasley111 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 1, 2024 'I was really happy with her,'' Beasley said. 'It was a race I always wanted to run in but I had a few hiccups with her early in the preparation so I got there in a roundabout sort of way. 'She's trained on well. 'I think she has probably got enough ability to go to a Highway one day but her temperament is just not quite there yet so I still want her to have a bit more racing and get a bit more experience before we throw her into anything too deep again.' Jato was purchased by Begg at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale in 2022 for the sum of $25,000. The filly's dam, Rahveel, is a daughter of Zabeel, and while she only managed one win in her 21 starts, she was runner-up in the Wakeful and Auraria Stakes in Adelaide as well as fourth in the MRC Thousand Guineas (to Atlantic Jewel). Not only does she derive stamina from her dam, Jato's sire is Starcraft who won five Group 1s around the globe. One of those wins was at Royal Randwick in the AJC Derby, a race that Beasley remembers well given he rode the 100/1 shot, and runner-up, Braeloch for Guy Walter. 'That was heartbreaking,'' Beasley said. 'I think (Starcraft) only got us the last stride.' â– â– â– â– â– HALL Of Famer Ron Quinton is hopeful the Hawkesbury -bound Like Anything can win her first race on Tuesday almost 30 years to the day that her grand-dam rolled Hareeba and Telesto at the Gold Coast. Like Anything is the third of her generation to be housed at Quinton's High Street HQ. The eight-time Sydney Jockeys Premiership winner and six times Group 1-winning trainer won two races at Canterbury with Like Anything's dam, Duchess Pedrille. He won 11 races with Duchess Pedrille's dam, Mamzelle Pedrille including the STC Theo Marks, VATC Sandown Stakes and the Winter Stakes in Brisbane, now known as the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara. A daughter of Maurice, Like Anything was $31 out to $41 back into $31 when she made her debut in a deep two and three-year-old maiden at Canterbury on April 21. Quinton's filly handed in an honourable fifth behind the Chris Waller pairing Mia Ballerina and Hidden Achievement. 'It was certainly a pass-mark for sure,'' Quinton said. 'It was probably short of her best distance. She goes up to 1400m this time, the track will be heavy of course and it is hard to know how she'll handle the real heavy ground. 'She is quite a nice filly but she is a filly that I think is probably going to step up over a bit of ground.' Like Anything will wear the black, yellow seams, carried to victory by the Quinton filly Bulla Borghese in the 2002 VRC Oaks. Her early afternoon mission today will be closely watched in Hong Kong given Like Anything was bought at sale (for $130,000) by leading local trainer, Casper Fownes. Super Nui, Quinton's other runner at Hawkesbury on Tuesday, will wear the same predominantly orange silks that Mamzelle Pedrille wore both in Australia and on tour in Hong Kong. A daughter of Super One, Super Nui won't be held back by the prospect of a Heavy track given her eight-plus lengths win on a '9' at Wyong at her most recent outing. 'You get these big margins on wet tracks,'' Quinton warned. 'It wasn't a super race by any means but she won well. 'Handicappers don't forget when they win by margins, they don't forget to whack them up a massive lot of points. 'That put her up six points. 'She's been very honest and consistent. She is very tough actually.'
