Grahame Begg’s training approach is highly calculated, though perfect plans don’t always hold firm.
He had high hopes after selecting apprentice Logan Bates to steer Dirty Look in Caulfield’s Up & Coming Stars Series Final this Saturday.
In most $300,000 races, apprentices can’t claim weight, but this Class 3 fixture makes an exception.
Bates’ suspension from last Saturday’s Caulfield card eliminated his 1.5kg benefit.
The thriving Sydney Autumn Carnival alongside the budding Adelaide Carnival limited jockey selections.
Begg succeeded in retaining Harry Coffey for the Dirty Look mount Saturday, building on their past win with Nonconformist in Flemington’s Group 2 Blamey Stakes in 2023.
“I thought I had been very clever,” Begg said.
“I had Logan Bates booked to ride her, and it was a claiming race.
“People probably didn’t take much notice of that, and she would have got in with 53-½ (kilos) on her back, but he got suspended last Saturday, so that put an end to it.”
Saturday marks just the fourth race for Dirty Look as she meets more accomplished challengers.
The filly secured her debut win at Sandown March 11 and notched second next time out there March 25.
“We’re very happy with how she has progressed,” Begg said.
“It’s the fourth start of her preparation and after she runs on Saturday, she’ll be going for a break.
“She’s done everything we have asked her to do. She ran very well at her last start on the Sandown Lakeside course, where she drew out and got back, but she hit the line very well in what was a very much leader dominated race.
“She’s been learning her craft, and she looks quite handy and we’re certainly looking forward to Saturday.”
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