A lack of suitable sprint options in Melbourne has prompted Grahame Begg to set his sights on the Sydney carnival with classy mare C’Est Magique, who launches her campaign in the Triscay Stakes at Randwick.
Keen to restrict the four-year-old to shorter sprints after she failed at her only start beyond 1200m in the Tristarc Stakes (1400m), Begg views the autumn program in his former hometown as a better fit.
“There’s a better continuity of races for her here. You’ve got the Birthday Card (Stakes), the Wenona Girl (Quality), Saturday’s race, the Triscay (Stakes),” Begg said.
“There are so many races for them and let’s face it, we’re trying to increase their resume and get that stakes win on the board.”
C’est Magique has been sparingly raced since taking out a Pakenham maiden on debut in August 2022.
She went on to place at Listed level at her next start and two runs later split In Secret and Buenos Noches in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
She missed last autumn with a virus, the timing leaving her carnival run too late, then didn’t quite measure up to expectations in the spring.
“She probably wasn’t at her best in the spring for whatever reason. Maybe she was a bit ring rusty,” Begg said.
“Not that she ran badly. Her first-up run was OK, she ran well second-up and then we ran her in two pretty good class races after that.
“But she’s had a really good jump out and trial and she has come up very well.”
C’est Magique will tackle Saturday’s Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) having not raced since her midfield effort behind Imperatriz in the Champions Sprint (1200m) in November.
She has performed well in two previous fresh runs, and although Begg cautions she is a gross mare who will strip fitter for the hitout, he also believes she is well treated with 54.5kg under the quality handicap conditions.
“The fact is, she has only won one race and that was a maiden at Pakenham, but she has been placed in Group One company,” he said.
“So even in the set weights and penalties races, she doesn’t get too badly treated, but in a quality handicap she is in virtually on the limit.
“She will still improve, she is a very big mare, but she is forward enough to run well.”
Tim Clark has the ride from barrier one.
