Trainer Grahame Begg will be absent over the four days of Melbourne Cup week following a hip replacement operation, but it won’t stop him being a participant.
Begg’s staff are continually in discussions with the Cranbourne-based trainer as he recovers from surgery who is plotting the path of his stable stars.
The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday has been on the radar for the Begg-trained Splash Back who enters the race in peak condition.
Victorious in the Stocks Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley on September 26, Splash Back was then second behind Abounding in the Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18.
Begg said while the drop back in distance at Caulfield last start was not ideal, he did not want to step her up in distance as he felt it may make the mare ‘dour’.
With Nash Rawiller in the saddle, Splash Back railed up late and finished off well.
Jordan Childs, who scored on the mare at Moonee Valley, is back aboard on Saturday.
“I thought she ran very well at Caulfield,” Begg said.
“I didn’t want to run her over the mile beforehand, as I thought it might make her a bit dour, so that’s why I kept her at 1400 (metres) just to keep a bit of spring in her step.
“We thought she ran very, very well, but we thought at that stage of the day it wasn’t the best part of the track to be in.
“He also got dictated to where he was in the run, so overall it was a good performance.”
Splash Back had been a steady riser through the grades since joining Begg’s team last year, going from a benchmark 70 race to being successful at Group 2 level.
Begg used the ratings system to advantage over winter, but always had the Empire Rose in mind, although he conceded the race is a little stronger than what he first envisaged.
“This is the Grand Final, it is the race for the mares in the spring, and it’s come up a very strong race, as you would appreciate,” Begg said.
“Chris Waller has three good mares in there and Pride Of Jenni, I didn’t expect to see her, but she’ll put a bit of spice into the race, which may open it up and make it a race with a bit of attrition, which Splash Back relishes.”
