Randwick based trainer Grahame Begg will be heading to Warwick Farm tomorrow with a very strong team of runners including the favourite for NSW’s second Group 1 of the year the Turnpoint Randwick Guineas, but there will be plenty of eyes on what looks to be his best Golden Slipper chance for some time when Written Consent takes on a very talented field in the Skyline Stakes.
Begg will be taking four of his most inform runners to the Farm where he looks to win his second Group 1 of the season and his first since Secret Admirer won the Flight Stakes in October last year and if betting markets are anything to go by he has a very realistic chance with Ilovethiscity currently holding favourtism in the Turnpoint Guineas.
Written Consent will be looking to get a ballot exempt entry into the Golden Slipper with a win in Saturday's Skyline Stakes - Photo by Steve Hart
Ilovethiscity has returned this preparation in career best form after a mixed run of performances in Spring, which included a Group 3 win in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle, but unfortunately ended on a negative note when he knocked up in the Caulfield Guineas where he was sent out as favourite.
This preparation has seen him run fourth in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes then on the two week back-up win the Hobartville Stakes beating home Retrieve and Skilled in which he will meet again on Saturday.
Grahame is very happy with his progress and told Just Horse Racing “I couldn’t be happier with the way that he has trained on between the Hobartville and the Guineas and he has drawn an ideal gate. I feel that he will be very hard to beat. At this stage and all going well after this race he will head towards the George Ryder, then the Doncasater.”
Another runner expected to produce big things this Autumn is the 2yo son of Written Tycoon, ‘Written Consent’ who will be having his third career race start in the Skyline stakes on Saturday and depending on the finishing result will be looking to head to the Golden Slipper and hopefully produce a better result than his farther Written Tycoon who won the Todman stakes in 2005 beating Domesday and Flying Pegasus, then running 11th two weeks later in the Golden Slipper.
Last start at Randwick over 1100m, Written Consent was very impressive, only getting clear near the 200m mark and flashing home to just miss. An unsuccessful protest was logged by in form jockey Brenton Advulla in which he claimed that Diamond of Pegasus rolled out and took his running space but due to the winning margin it was dismissed.
In what looks to be a fast paced race, it is expected that Written Consent will go back from his wide barrier draw and finish strongly down the outside with the extra distance being a positive.
The Skyline Stakes(G3) is a nice lead up race for colts and geldings that are looking to head into the Golden Slipper with the winner getting a ballot exempt entree into the richest 2yo race of the year.
Grahame is happy with how Written Consent has trained on from his last start “He has also drawn barrier 9, he had 4 days at the farm after his last start for a little freshen up and he had a nice trial last Friday over 1000 meters to have him fit for this race. Given the right run he will figure prominently.” he told Just Horse Racing.
Despite Grahame’s strong group race contingency, he also contests two Listed races with live chances including Mac Chois in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes who will be looking to continue his winning form after resuming at Kensington with a win in a strong Welter Handicap a fortnight ago.
Begg is happy with Mac Chois progress and feels he should figure in the finish “He has progressed really well since his first up win. I feel that he has drawn a touch awkward from the 9 barrier but with good speed in the race I feel that he will be very hard to hold out. His record is one for one at Warwick Farm and it was a decisive win.”
His other runner for the day Princess Qualo will be having her third start for the stable and definitely has the ability to go close in the Listed Wenona Girl Handicap even though betting markets suggest she is an outside chance.
Once again Brenton Avdulla has been entrusted with bookings on the stables runners and will be looking to emulate his ride on Ilovethiscity in the Hobartville Stakes, with three of the four runners drawing barrier 9 Avdulla and Begg both hope it will be a lucky gate, contrary to what triple 9 is used for in the UK.
Stable Overview:
Written Consent will jump from barrier (9) in the Group 3 Skyline Stakes and is currently the $4.60* third favourite for the race and will be ridden by stable jockey Brenton Avdulla.
Mac Chois will jump from barrier (9) in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes and is currently equal $4.80 second favourite for the race and will be ridden by stable jockey Brenton Avdulla.
Princess Qualo will jump from barrier (9) in the Listed Wenona Girl Handicap and is currently 16* for the race and will be ridden by stable jockey Brenton Avdulla.
Ilovethiscity will jump from barrier (5) in the Group 1 Turnpoint Randwick Guineas and is currently the $2.60*Â favourite for the race and will be ridden by stable jockey Brenton Avdulla.
View the latest stable news at http://www.grahamebegg.com.au
Written by Morgan Payne
