Grahame Begg concedes bothĀ the barrier draw and distance are not ideal for Rose Quartz as she chases a first stakes race win.
Rose Quartz lines up in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday having finished second to Jigsaw in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on November 26.
Michael Dee again takesĀ the ride, having ridden Rose Quartz in all-bar two of her 11 starts, netting three of the mare’s four wins.
Ideally, Begg would like Rose QuartzĀ to be runningĀ over 1100m, but Saturday’s raceĀ is the oneĀ option that fits his plan of getting the mare to theĀ Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Sandown on Boxing Day.
“I wish she had just drawn out a bit more,” Begg said.
“I hate those inside draws up the straight at Flemington, but anyway we’ve got a good jockey on board.
“There seems to be very good speed in the race. She’s trained on well and it will top her off nicely for the Christmas Stakes at Sandown on Boxing Day.
“She goes well up the straight,Ā and if she wins, it’s a ‘black type’ win to go on her page.”
Begg said a month between runs would be tooĀ long for Rose Quartz after her three-quarter length second at Caulfield lastĀ time out.
He said Rose Quartz was looking for 1100mĀ at CaulfieldĀ as she was dropping back from that trip at Flemington when out of the placings in late October.
“It is different racing over 1000 metres compared to 1100 metres,” Begg said.
“Leaders seem to keep running over 1000 metres, but at the 1100 metres, theĀ leadersĀ seem toĀ come back to them a bit.
“I know it’s only 100 metres, but over the years, it has been a big difference.”
Saturday’s race isĀ theĀ openingĀ leg of the Summer Sprint Series which carries $1 million in prize money.
In addition to the lucrative prize money, further incentives are also on offer with the winner of the second leg, the Christmas Stakes,Ā beingĀ exempt from the ballot for the Oakleigh PlateĀ whileĀ the winners of theĀ third leg, theĀ Standish Handicap,Ā andĀ fourth leg, theĀ Australia Stakes gain a ballotĀ exemptionĀ forĀ the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at FlemingtonĀ in March.
