Nonconformist is poised for a third shot at the Caulfield Cup, following an impressive second-place finish in The Q22 at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Trainer Grahame Begg was highly pleased with Nonconformist’s performance, attributing the resurgence to the firm Brisbane track conditions that favoured the horse over the softer turf in the Doomben Cup.
“The horse had thrived up here in Brisbane. He ran up to his appearance as that was the best I’d ever seen him,” Begg said.
He confirmed that after a short break, Nonconformist will be back in training from the third week of July, aiming squarely at the Caulfield Cup.
Regarding Cardinal Gem’s subpar performance in the Stradbroke Handicap, Begg noted his discomfort when crowded among other horses, hinting at a shift in strategy for the upcoming Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, considering Cardinal Gem’s strong record at Caulfield over 1400 metres.
Finally, Begg expressed excitement over his expanding team, particularly about Lunar Flare, winner of the Andrew Ramsden Stakes, and She’s A Con, last start New Zealand Stakes winner, set to join the Melbourne team this week.
