Stable newcomer Romancer is set to have his first run for Grahame Begg at Caulfield in preparation for a winter race series.
Romancer will contest the third heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series on Saturday which has a final at stakes level at Flemington on July 6.
After beginning his career in New Zealand, Romancer joined the Darren Weir stable last year, winning the Donald Cup in November.
When Weir was disqualified for four years in February, Romancer found his way to Begg who took a long, slow approach to get him back to the races.
The gelding won a Cranbourne trial on May 6 before running eighth in an 1100m-trial at Werribee on May 20 won by Saturday’s Flemington winner Admiral’s Joker.
“He’s going well and that’s why we’ve waited to run him at 1400 metres first-up which I think will be a more comfortable rhythm for him,” Begg said.
“He came to me to start his prep and we’ve just taken our time with him, brought him along slowly.”
Begg does not expect to be stepping Romancer up too far in distance this campaign.
“I think looking at his form he’s a better horse in shorter races. I reckon 1600 metres tops him out,” Begg said.
“I’m going to take the blinkers off him as the way he’s been going he doesn’t need them.”
Stablemate Our Libretto will press on to the Group Two Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm on June 8 after her midfield finish behind The Candy Man in the Premier’s Cup on Saturday.
Begg was critical of how the track raced at Eagle Farm where it was hard for horses racing back in the field to make ground.
Our Libretto drew barrier 16 in the 18-horse line-up, racing in the second-half of the field.
“It was a very biased track, a speedway on the inside,” Begg said.
“Every horse that came out to make a run, it was like hitting a brick wall.
“Jamie Kah said the run was OK so we’ll press on and hopefully the track might even up a bit.”
