Cilacap's path altered by Begg toward Adelaide
Grahame Begg has shifted Cilacap back to Melbourne after an unsuccessful pair of outings in Sydney, eyeing a specific race in Adelaide next.
The mare lines up at Caulfield on Saturday in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m), then proceeds to the Group 2 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville in Adelaide on April 25.
Last year, Begg triumphed in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes courtesy of Zloties, marking his debut win at the Adelaide venue.
Cilacap was earmarked for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) in Adelaide last season, but a knee bone chip post-trial run ruled her out.
Resuming in December, the mare took a short freshen-up before Sydney duties, starting in the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill on February 21 first-up, then running midfield in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes (1500m) there on March 14.
Originally, Begg eyed the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick for Cilacap this Saturday.
"I thought she was better off coming back to Melbourne," Begg said.
"So, she'll run on Saturday and then she'll go over to Adelaide to run in the Queen Of The South Stakes, the Group 2.
"The tracks up in Sydney, the two runs she had up there, they were too hard and she loves a bit of give in the ground.
"They had rain up there last weekend, but I had already brought her back to Victoria."
To ready her for Saturday's alternative plan, Begg gave Cilacap a gentle jump-out at Pakenham on March 31.
Observing last week's Caulfield card, he was unhappy with track play, though Melbourne's Thursday downpour was a welcome boost.
Saturday sees Harry Coffey aboard Cilacap for his initial mount, after Begg's initial choice of apprentice Logan Bates.
Bates earned a ban last week for careless riding.
"Jockeys are a premium on Saturday with Sydney being on and now Adelaide coming into the picture," Begg said.
"There's a huge shortage of jockeys. I had Logan Bates booked for both my horses and then he got suspended on Saturday.
"Harry has a wedding to go to on Saturday afternoon, but luckily, I've got him for both."
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