Trainer Grahame Begg has mapped out a plan for the returning Cilacap that he hopes will lead to Group 1 success in the autumn.
Cilacap will make a cameo appearance in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Friday before Begg’s attention switches to the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Begg is eyeing the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill in March and the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick for the mare.
Begg has already circled in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill for Cilacap to start her Sydney campaign.
Cilacap has not raced since finishing tenth in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield in April after which she had surgery to remove a bone chip.
“She had arthroscopic surgery to remove that chip, that’s why she missed the spring,” Begg said.
“She’s had a long, slow, steady build-up. She’s been in work for a long time, along with a bit of equestrian, a bit of beach work, but she’s in great order and very sound.
“I wasn’t going to run her, but I thought, no get her to a level of fitness, and then back-off.
“If you can get that one run into them after a long lay-off, it then sets you up for later on, so after Friday we will back off her, and she can head to Sydney for the autumn races.
“She loves a bit of give in the ground.”
Cilacap started her career with Kris Lees at Newcastle but made her way to Begg’s stable before she had raced.
In seven starts, Cilacap has been successful four times, including taking out the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley before her last outing at Caulfield.
Begg had been contemplating a trip to Adelaide for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in April but now believes a trip from 1500m to 1600m is best for Cilacap.
In form apprentice Logan Bates, who has ridden Cilacap in a jump-out at Cranbourne and a trial at Caulfield Heath ahead of her return, has the mount on Friday.
