Begg mares to stake their claim at Caulfield

The staff behind Grahame Begg have kept the home fires burning while ‘the boss’ enjoyed a late season break ahead of a busy spring.

Winners have continued with Queen Peta impressive at Sandown on July 8 and debutant Riverina Lulu at Flemington last Saturday.

With Begg due back from his holiday on Friday, the stable will be anxious to see how their two mares perform in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Weather conditions may play a part with Miraval Rose and Samangu both preferring dry ground, but Begg’s racing manager Rohan Hughes said the pair head to Caulfield in good shape.

Miraval Rose returned with a pleasing fourth behind Winnasedge in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 11 while Samangu is coming off a last start seventh behind Ndola in the Listed Santa Ana Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 4.

Hughes said Miraval Rose had improved out of her first-up showing and was expecting another positive showing.

“She doesn’t like wet ground, but she had a little procedure early in the prep where we had to back off her and that meant we had her kicking off in the winter,” Hughes said.

“She’s a big, heavy mare, so if we tipped her out, we would never get her back, so we kept her going and we chose these two races.

“Ideally, she would like three weeks rather two weeks going second-up, but she is a big, gross doing mare. She’ll cop it, it’s just a matter of whether she backs up, and is as sharp.

“It’s a similar lot, so if she holds her form, with a little bit of improvement, she should be right in the mix.”

Hughes said the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday week had been considered for Samangu, but the team was concerned the mare may not get a start in that race.

“We feel like she’s going very well and she’s a bit similar to the other mare in that she needs drier ground, ideally,” Hughes said.

“She got into a sit and sprint race in the Santa Ana Lane, whereas we feel if she can get into a race where they go a nice gallop, she will be better off.

“It’s her first try at weight-for-age, but we’ve always had a good opinion of her and right now we feel she’s going really well and we’re happy to give her a chance.”

Jordan Childs partners Miraval Rose who will jump from barrier two with Samangu to jump from gate four under Michael Dee.