Grahame Begg has been forced into starting two of his mares in a Stakes race at Sandown, a scenario the inform trainer says is not ideal.
Miraval Rose and So Glamorous head to the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Begg would have preferred the race to remain at Caulfield, however it was moved late last week to Sandown as the Melbourne Racing Club awaits council approval to again have racegoers back on site following the fire in the Norman Robinson Grandstand earlier in the month.
Miraval Rose has been freshened since winning the Listed Kensington Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day while So Glamorous will be running for the first time since her second placing behind Rumbled Again on a rain sodden track in the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Caulfield in November.
Begg said he had booked Craig Williams for Miraval Rose with Damian Lane to ride So Glamorous.
Both jockeys partnered their respective mares in their most recent outings.
“They’ve both trained on well since their last starts,” Begg said.
“Miraval Rose is coming from a month gap from the Kensington Stakes to the Bellmaine.
“She’s such a big, gross mare and we had to give her a jump-out at Cranbourne on January 20 just to tick her over.”
Begg has been ticking over at 28% this season, posting 33 winners from 118 starts in Victoria.
He said part of his success was being able to send his team off for some R & R between runs.
“Miraval Rise had some time out of the stable at the water treadmill, which we’ve been using with great success based out of Hastings,” Begg said.
“They stay in the yard during the day and then are boxed at night so they’re not losing any fitness over the seven-day period
“It’s just a small change up and we’ve been doing that with a lot of our horses for the past six months.”
So Glamorous has been winless since December 2023 but has run second twice in Stakes company at Caulfield.
“She’s coming along nicely but she might find the 1200 (metres) too short fresh,” Begg said.
“She’s had the one jump-out and ran well.”
Begg said the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15 would be next on the agenda for Miraval Rose after Saturday while So Glamorous would head to the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield the following week.
“After Saturday we can split them. They’ve got their paths,” Begg said.
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