After two underwhelming starts in Sydney, Grahame Begg has transported Cilacap to Melbourne, plotting a race at Adelaide moving forward.
On Saturday, Cilacap tackles the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield, then heads to the Group 2 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) over Morphettville on April 25.
Zloties delivered Begg’s win in the prior Queen Of The Turf Stakes, coincidentally his first at Adelaide.
Cilacap targeted Adelaide’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) last year, but a knee bone chip from a prep run scratched her.
December saw the mare’s return, a quick break ensued, leading to Sydney where she debuted in the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill February 21, midfield thereafter in Rosehill’s Group 1 Coolmore Stakes (1500m) March 14.
Cilacap was originally slated by Begg for Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
“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.”
A easy jump-out at Pakenham on March 31 from Begg sharpened Cilacap for the Saturday adjustment.
Last week’s Caulfield races left Begg unimpressed by track behaviour, yet Melbourne’s midweek rain provided relief.
Harry Coffey gets his initial ride on Cilacap Saturday, as in-form apprentice Logan Bates was the original pick.
Bates drew a suspension last week over 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.”
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