After notching his first city winner since his return to training, Grahame Begg will try to keep the ball rolling when he takes two-year-old filly Hinchin Time to town for the first time at Moonee Valley.
Begg enjoyed considerable success when training out of Randwick for more than two decades before closing his Sydney stable in late 2014.
After taking a break, the multiple Group One-winning trainer relocated to Victoria last year to begin again and currently has 12 horses in work at the Pinecliff training facility on the Mornington Peninsula.
Phoenix Park’s win at Sandown on Wednesday was a city breakthrough for Begg and the stable’s 14th overall winner for the season since his return.
Hinchin Time lines up in Saturday’s Friends of Epworth Handicap (1200m) after an encouraging fourth in a 1000m Pakenham maiden against her own age and sex on debut on a heavy track.
Begg said there was a lack of options for Hinchin Time but he is happy to step her up to city grade for her second start.
And he wouldn’t be surprised to see the filly, a $26 chance, run a big race.
“I wouldn’t have her in there unless I thought she could,” Begg said.
“There was a two-year-old fillies race programmed for Seymour next Thursday but that’s been moved up to Wangaratta and I didn’t think that would be ideal putting her on the truck up there and back.
“That’s a long day for a young horse early in its preparation.
“We didn’t think there were any superstars in this race on Saturday, but certainly there’s horses who have a bit more race experience and that always holds them in good stead.
“Outside of a couple of ones up near the top, it looked a pretty even race.”
Begg believes Hinchin Time will improve with experience.
“I like her a lot,” he said.
“I certainly think whatever she does on Saturday she’s going to improve with the race experience.
“Also a big plus is the possibility of her getting on a dry track.”
