When Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Scott Seamer came calling for a ride at Saturday’s Randwick meeting, trainer Grahame Begg was happy to oblige.
Brisbane-based Seamer will be in action at Randwick on Tattersalls Club Cup day and Begg has booked him to partner Cabernet in the Listed Nivison (1200m) for mares.
“Scott rang me and asked if I had a ride for him, he said he was coming down,” Begg said.
“I told him I didn’t have a jockey for her because obviously it was difficult getting jockeys for Saturday, so I said he could ride her.”
Seamer has four rides at the meeting with many of Sydney’s top jockeys absent due to Caulfield Cup day in Melbourne.
Cabernet hit a rich vein of form last preparation, winning three races in a row before failing to beat a runner home when returning from a let-up in the Triscay Stakes.
The five-year-old has had two barrier trials ahead of her return and Begg elected to hold her back another week and wait for the Nivison rather than compete at Rosehill last Saturday.
“She’s coming along well,” the trainer said.
“We scratched her last week because we thought the track was going to be a bit soft and she drew the outside gate.
“She’s in on Saturday in a Listed race and she’s going well. On her day she can gallop.”
Cabernet is on the fourth line of TAB Sportsbet betting for the Nivison at $10 behind $4 favourite Ofcourseican.
Seamer is also booked for Midnight At Ascot in the Lightning Handicap, Peakhurst Girl in the City Tattersalls Plate and he reunites with nine-year-old stayer Lodge The Deeds for the first time in two years in the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m).
Seamer has ridden Lodge The Deeds seven times for three wins.
He won three straight races on the gelding in the middle of 2007 then more than two years later finished second on the gelding in both the 2009 Newcastle Cup and Group One Metropolitan.
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