Trainer Grahame Begg hopes the rain forecast for Melbourne later in the week does not arrive.
Begg will saddle Nonconformist in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday for which the stayer sits on the equal third line of betting with TAB.
Incentivise heads the market at $1.90 ahead of Saturday’s Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) winner Delphi at $7 with Nonconformist and Young Werther on the next line at $8.
Nonconformist rounded off his Caulfield Cup preparation by being nosed out by Probabeel in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Importantly, Begg said Nonconformist had recovered well from the narrow defeat.
“That was his gallop yesterday and hopefully there’s not too much rain and we can draw a half-decent gate, that will be important,” Begg said.
“He’s got to run the mile-and-a-half, a strong mile-and-a-half, but he has got the decent weight drop to be able to do it.
“I’m sure he’s going into the race in good shape.”
The final field with barriers will be declared on Wednesday.
Begg said Nonconformist had gone to another level this campaign.
He said the way Saturday’s race panned out was as he expected, adding Nonconformist’s effort was better than the trainer expected.
“To be competitive against proven Group 1 weight-for-age performers, I thought he was great, and he’s certainly gone to another level this preparation,” Begg said.
Begg also watched Dosh narrowly beaten by Savatoxl in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m).
“It was a bit heart breaking to see them both beaten, but I can’t be disappointed with them,” Begg said.
Begg is undecided where Dosh may head next but said the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 22 could come under consideration.
