Grahame Begg’s stable star is back in work and will be solely focused on going one better in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) after running a gallant second to Incentivise last year.
With no Incentivise to worry about this Spring, Begg is looking forward to the Spring after opting to skip the wet Autumn with the rising six-year-old.
“He’s going to have a jump out possibly Monday week, and then go to the trials on the 9th of August at Cranbourne and then head into the Memsie Stakes (August 28th) first up,” Begg said.
Nonconformist will follow a different path to last year’s preparation which saw him needing to win his way in via the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).
“He will stay at weight-for-age, he’ll go to the Makybe Diva, then more than likely the Underwood, Caulfield Stakes (now the Might And Power) into the Caulfield Cup,” Begg said.
Begg has been mindful that Nonconformist has been a slow maturing type but thinks he’s fully matured heading into his six-year-old season.
“He looks great, he looks fantastic. It’s a matter of harnessing him and giving him every opportunity in life but he’s had all that so he’s in good shape,” Begg said.
The sole focus will be the Caulfield Cup, with Begg suggesting the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) was unlikely.
“I would say no Melbourne Cup at this stage, he’s not a Melbourne Cup type of horse and I’d like to have him round for another year or two!”
Nonconformist is currently the equal second favourite for the Caulfield Cup at $15 with TAB behind Duais.
