After going over Passive Aggressive with a fine-tooth comb, Grahame Begg has decided to spell the mare with the view to an autumn campaign.
Unbeaten at her first four starts including the Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in June, Passive Aggressive was sent out a short-priced favourite in her return run in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 27.
After appearing to get an easy time in front, Passive Aggressive tired in the run home to finish fourth behind Chain Of Lightning, beaten just over two lengths.
Passive Aggressive was given a thorough going over by vets before the decision was made last Friday to pull-up stumps on her spring campaign.
Begg said Passive Aggressive had felt the effects of her run in the Cockram Stakes which was on a track that was the closest to a good surface that she had raced on.
“She’s fine but we’ve put her out,” Begg said.
“I’m not sugar-coating anything, but it was a below par run as far as we were concerned as we expected her to win.
“We were always of the opinion being her first preparation, and I made no secret of that, that she would possibly only have a couple of runs early in the spring and then go out.
“She had been in work since January, racing on soft ground and working on heavier ground, so it all took a toll.
“She felt the effects of the race, so we have taken the tip and put her away.”
Begg said Passive Aggressive had done a good job to go from winning a Werribee maiden on debut to being successful in Listed grade when closing out her three-year-old season.
“Not many horses win a Listed race at her age in their first preparation,” Begg said.
“So, she did a super job, and now we can recalibrate and get ready for the autumn which was always my initial thoughts with her.”
