Latest news with #GrahameBegg
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow and forgive from Flemington on Saturday
Form expert Gilbert Gardiner analyses Saturday's Flemington Community Race Day, revealing his horses to follow as well as five to forgive. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– FIVE TO FOLLOW SPLASH BACK (1-length 1st of 12, Race 7): How could you not? Savage turn of foot late to nail TERRESTAR and the plucky SASSY BOOM after being hemmed away in an almost impossible position third last in traffic. Her win at Caulfield the start prior was equally impressive. Spring beckons for the rising six-year-old mare. SPLASH BACK FROM THE CLOUDS 🤯 🤯 She might be pretty good! Splash Back comes from nowhere to the delight of the punters, giving Tom Prebble a race to race double! @Grahame_Begg — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 21, 2025 FIELDELO (3.8-length 2nd of 11, Race 9): Crashed into a rising star in SHE'S AN ARTIST, who smashed the clock to win the 1100m Three-Year-Old Handicap by 3 3/4 lengths. Tracked the winner to the 800m but unable to quicken as sharply when She's An Artist sprinted clear. Fieldelo, trained by Toby Lake, stuck to her task to run second. BRIDAL WALTZ also gallant in third. She's An Artist shares a resemblance to a certain sprinter & she might share some of that ability... ðŸ'©â€�🎨 The bald-faced filly trounces her opposition under hands & heals. @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 RELENTLESS VOYAGER (4.5-length 6th of 12, Race 8): Expect to see more of him in coming weeks and months. A lovely Australian debut, albeit luckless, by the imported stayer, twice stakes' placed in England last year. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding had not raced for 10 months before last Saturday. Held up multiple times inside the last 200m and barely got out of second gear. "What a day for team Payne!" Jimmy The Bear atones for an uncharacteristic poor run last start, bounding away with the David Bourke Handicap ðŸ�» Michelle & Patrick Payne have a quartet & their apprentice, Tom Prebble, has a treble 🤩 — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 FROM A DISTANCE (0.8-length 2nd of 11, Race 4): Worked into contention nicely in the straight but snookered between horses on the heels of winner TAKEN. The Symon Wilde-trained gelding got clear air eventually, inside the last 75m, and surged into second position. Could be hard to hold out next start at 1600m. Stablemate DARKBONEE (3rd) saved best work late after being held up. Taken lugs 60kg to extend his winning-streak to four ðŸ'Œ @CWilliamsJockey collects his first winner of the afternoon. @MickPriceRacing — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 HARD TO CROSS (4.3-length 8th of 13, Race 5): Wet track, 1600m third-up could be a nice recipe for the typically consistent performer. Posted wide without cover last Saturday in the second half of the field and shunted deeper again in the straight. BRIGHT STRIPES (3.1-length 7th) an eye-catching run late. Cafe Millennium collects an elusive second victory after going winless since his debut ðŸ¤� @lindsayparkrace has their galloper humming since joining the team this preparation. @LukeCartwrightt — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– FORGIVE RED GALAXY (6.4-length 11th of 16, Race 5): Travelled outside leader FREAK OF NATURE (11.2-length 13th of 13) and both weakened in the straight. Jockey Craig Williams told stewards Red Galaxy made an abnormal respiratory noise on pulling up. A post-race endoscopy detected a throat condition that may have affected Red Galaxy's performance. Freak Of Nature also pulled up with signs of a throat condition. AVEBURY (4.6-length 8th of 12, Race 7): Faded out of contention late but potentially reached the end of her preparation. Raced consistently of late, with big weights, including a Caulfield win four starts back. OBSERVER (6.4-length 5th of 8, Race 1): Won too impressively the start prior at Sandown, bolted in by five lengths, to sack off one blemish. The two-year-old colt appeared to travel well at Flemington but wilted when jockey Craig Williams asked for an effort as BUCCLEUCH (1st) and MILLENNIUM BLADE (3rd) challenged at the 300m. Buccleuch surges away from his fellow 2yos under the guidance of @TheBeeegan ðŸ'Œ @mj_payne — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– STEWARDS SAY Jockey John Allen reported ST LAWRENCE (Race 8) failed to respond under pressure and was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any significant findings. Trainer Gavin Bedggood could offer no explanation for the performance. Stewards will follow up with the stable.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- 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
01-06-2025
- 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
31-05-2025
- 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
30-05-2025
- 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.'
