Gracias Amigo needed a lot to go his way to make the Country Mile Series Final at Flemington.
As part of the All-Star Mile program, the Country Mile Series Final had heats run on a number of country tracks around Victoria.
Trainer Grahame Begg had picked out the Wangaratta heat on March 5, but as luck would have it the meeting was washed out due to heavy rain.
The heat was held over until the Sandown meeting on March 9 and for Begg it was run in the race, hope to finish in the top three, and earn a berth in the $250,000 final at Flemington on Saturday.
Gracias Amigo had previously shown a dislike for the Sandown circuit, but he was on his best behaviour that day running out a comfortable winner.
Begg is sure the flatter Flemington track will be to Gracias Amigo’s liking on Saturday after the gelding won over Saturday’s course and distance on New Year’s Day.
The main concern for Begg is the 60kg the gelding will need to carry having won with 57kg when successful at Sandown following the 3kg claim for Logan Mcneil.
“He’s not advantaged this week at the weights, he’s gone up to 60 kilos, but it’s a pretty condensed weight scale,” Begg said.
“But he’s had a good week since his win.
“He’s drawn in 10 if the emergencies don’t get a run. He likes a bit of room in his races, so hopefully he can even be three-wide with a bit of cover, that should be alright.
“The track will be good, which is what he wants, and the trip should be perfect.
“He’s held his condition well so he’s just going to need a bit of luck.”
First prize of $137,500 is more than three times the value of his win when successful on New Year’s Day.