In a career spanning more than 30 years, Grahame Begg will have his first runner in a Melbourne Cup when Lunar Flare takes to the track at Flemington.
Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) came on the radar for Begg and connections after the now seven-year-old mare won the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) last year.
Begg has trained Lunar Flare specifically with Tuesday’s race in mind, knowing full well from the second acceptance stage the mare was in the race.
He had the luxury of following a path he planned, collecting a bonus along the way when Lunar Flare won the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington, and a ballot exemption.
And Lunar Flare showed her Melbourne Cup 2022 preparation was on target with her second-place finish to Francesco Guardi in this year’s Moonee Valley Cup.
Lunar Flare’s run was equally as impressive as the winner with some form students disappointed the Chris Waller-trained winner was not in this year’s Cup.
Begg said Lunar Flare’s mid-pack draw will afford the mare the opportunity to get a resting run as she steps up to 3200m for the first time.
“We feel she’s in good order, she’s run in the right lead up races and has had a good foundation to go to Tuesday’s race,” Begg said.
“You never know until you try them at the two miles, it’s like going to the marathon, you’ve got to get through that pain barrier.
“But she’s well-weighted, weighted to run well with 51-½ (kilos).
“A couple of the others, I think they’ve got their share of weight, particularly the mares Montefilia and Duais, I think they’re weighted right up to their best.”
Lunar Flare will also have the services of Michael Dee who has captured two of the staying features so far this spring.
He took out the Caulfield Cup on Durston along with the Victoria Derby on Manzoice on Saturday.
“Michael is the red-hot jockey in staying races,” Begg said.
“The nice thing is he’s ridden her nearly all the way through and has a good understanding of her.
“She can get a little bit on the bit, so she can be a little bit reliant on a nice enough speed in the first part of the race so she can relax which she is doing the more racing she has.
“The other day (Moonee Valley) she drew one of the outside barriers and she went back, but she relaxed. It was a solid run race, but she switched off which was important.”
