Grahame Begg will be out to ride his recent run of good fortune when he saddles three runners at the twilight midweek meeting at Sandown.
The Cranbourne-based trainer has prepared 11 winners from his past 50 starters and had a two-state Group 2 double on Saturday with Passive Aggressive in Sydney and Nonconformist at Flemington.
Those wins are good for the stable, and bottom line, but the reality is not all horses are in that grade.
Begg’s day on Wednesday kicks off with Ebony King in the Lady Of Racing Finalist Caroline Duddy Handicap (1300m), goes to Marigny in the Lady Of Racing Finalist Jennifer Hughes Handicap (1300m) and winds up with Gracias Amigo in the First Hanseatic Foals at Rosemont Handicap (1400m).
Ebony King broke through for his maiden success at Sandown in January before running a close second in Class 1 grade on February 15, the same company he meets on Wednesday.
“He’s drawn out a little bit in nine but there looks good speed in it, and he should be able to roll across outside the leader,” Begg said.
“He comes out of a good form race last start. There’s been a couple of winners come out of that race, so hopefully it stacks up well for him here.”
Marigny broke through for her maiden win on heavy ground first-up at Werribee on February 3 then stepped up to 1200m to finish second in Class 1 grade at Pakenham on February 23, finishing second.
Begg said Marigny has a nice draw in the small seven-horse line-up which should enable her to get a nice trip to run out the 1300m journey.
“It was a strong enough Class 1 that she ran in the at Pakenham and she’s on the improve,” Begg said.
Gracias Amigo is second-up following a long break and usually requires racing to strike his peak, however Begg has seen signs in the gelding’s work that he is heading in the right direction.
The gelding had his first run in 10 months down the straight at Flemington on February 18, making ground to finish ninth behind D’jumbuck.
“His work has sharpened up since his first-up run,” Begg said.
“He’s at a more suitable distance, but I would say he’ll improve again after he runs on Wednesday.”
