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."
Explore online bookmakers to find competitive betting markets for the race featuring Cilacap.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...