The adage that you should not send an in-form mare for a spell is unlikely to be followed after Samangu overcame a difficult passage to win at Caulfield.
Samangu registered her fifth win from seven career starts when she took out The Mystic Journey (1100m) on Saturday.
The Grahame Begg-trained mare started her campaign last October, with Saturday’s victory her fifth from six well-spaced starts.
Ridden by Jordan Childs, betting sites favourite Samangu ($2.90) scored a three-quarter length win from Roll On High ($17) with She Dances ($7.50) a short-half-head away third.
When asked post Saturday’s victory what was the next likely assignment for Samangu, Begg said she was off to the paddock.
“She’s been in work a long time, so she’s done a damn good job,” Begg said.
“She won a maiden back in the spring and we’ve given her races spaced out, but I must say I reckon today is the best she’s looked.
“Every day she’s goes to the races she’s actually starting to really put it all together, with her mannerisms on race day and things like that.
“She’s only four and she’ll come back when she’s s a five-year-old, more seasoned. She’s only beaten the once this preparation and that was at Flemington up the straight for the first time.
“She’s done a damn good job. The owners have been very patient with her as she had a few little maturity issues early doors
“She’s overcome those, and she’s been able to sustain a full preparation.”
Begg said he doubted Samangu was all that happy being cluttered up between runners.
But once she saw clear air she was able to quickly reel in the leaders and Begg said that was all part of a learning curve for the Samangu.
“We’ve been waiting a long time to get somebody to give her a cart into the race because all of her runs, outside of her maiden win, she’s been too fast for them, up in front in the lead,” Begg said.
“It was great. She’s a bloody good mare and I’ll tell you what, winners win.”
