Trainer Grahame Begg won’t be sighted at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week as he recovers from a hip replacement operation, but the Cranbourne horseman is still very much guiding every move his stable makes.
Begg has remained closely connected to his staff from home, regularly communicating as they finalise plans for his runners across the carnival, including talented mare Splash Back, who heads to Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
Splash Back has continued to elevate this preparation, winning the Stocks Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley on September 26 before producing another strong run when finishing runner-up behind Abounding in the Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18.
Begg said the decision to return her to 1400m last start was strategic, even if it appeared a slight backward step in distance.
“I thought she ran very well at Caulfield,” Begg said.
“I didn’t want to run her over the mile beforehand, as I thought it might make her a bit dour, so that’s why I kept her at 1400 (metres) just to keep a bit of spring in her step.
“We thought she ran very, very well, but we thought at that stage of the day it wasn’t the best part of the track to be in.
“He also got dictated to where he was in the run, so overall it was a good performance.”
Jordan Childs, who partnered Splash Back in her Valley win, reunites with the mare this weekend.
Splash Back has made a steady climb from benchmark grade to Group level since joining Begg’s stable last year. While she has been well-managed through the ratings system, the Empire Rose has always been marked as her spring grand final.
“This is the Grand Final, it is the race for the mares in the spring, and it’s come up a very strong race, as you would appreciate,” Begg said.
“Chris Waller has three good mares in there and Pride Of Jenni, I didn’t expect to see her, but she’ll put a bit of spice into the race, which may open it up and make it a race with a bit of attrition, which Splash Back relishes.”
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