Grahame Begg is looking forward to his first metropolitan runner since returning to the training ranks with Mossin’ Around ready to resume racing at Caulfield.
After Begg decided to take time off from training in late 2014, he retained his interest in racing with Mossin’ Around prepared by his former Randwick neighbour John Thompson to a win and four seconds.
Those seconds include two in Group company at Caulfield in February.
Begg relocated to Pinecliff on the Mornington Peninsula earlier this year and Mossin’ Around will have her first start for him at Caulfield on Saturday after pleasing her new trainer with a win in an 800m barrier trial a Cranbourne on Monday.
He hopes she can contest some of the better spring races for mares but first she needs to get her rating up.,
“She’s in on Saturday in an 1100 metre mares’ race,” Begg said.
“Hopefully (apprentice) Ben Allen will be able to take the ride on her and she’ll come in really well at the weights and then in a fortnight’s time, again at Caulfield, there’s a 1200 metre mares’ race that might suit.
“Then we can start thinking about the better races after that.”
Allen rode the mare in Monday’s trial.
Mossin’ Around hasn’t raced since her fifth in the Kewney Stakes at Flemington in March.
Begg said she had a good blow after the trial and the float trip to Cranbourne would enhance her fitness levels.
“We gave her a jump-out at Pakenham and the idea today was to give her a gallop on the grass as this was the only trial that we could fit in prior to running on Saturday,” Begg said.
“We got him (Allen) to take her in behind and then expose her in the last 300 metres.
“He said she felt really good in her action and strode through nicely.”
