Grahame Begg, a trainer with a deep connection to the sport, is set to experience his first Melbourne Cup runner with Zakouma’s entry into the esteemed race.
Begg took over his father Neville’s Randwick stable in 1990 at the age of 29, when Begg senior relocated to Hong Kong.
In 2016, Begg relocated his stable to Melbourne and was close to having his first Cup runner, only for Lunar Flare to be withdrawn on the morning of the 2022 Cup due to a foot issue. The following year, the mare suffered a career-ending injury in the lead-up to the Cup.
With Tuesday’s 3200-metre Melbourne Cup at Flemington approaching, Zakouma’s campaign has proceeded without any setbacks.
Zakouma secured a ballot exemption in May by clinching the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington, a victory that has afforded Begg the flexibility to select races for the stayer as he deemed fit.
After finishing fifth in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Flemington on October 10, Begg decided to give Zakouma a run over 1600m in the Crystal Mile (1600m) at Flemington two weeks later.
Begg admitted to questioning his decision that night, wondering if running Zakouma was the correct strategy, as the horse finished last and was beaten by 8-½ lengths.
“I woke up in the middle of the night and thought where did I go wrong,” Begg said.
“I was really pondering it and thinking how did I get it so wrong.
“Visually it looked awful because he was dropping out, but when you look at the sectional times, he ran his last 800 (metres) in 46-½ (seconds) and his last 600 was 34-½.
“His sectionals were quite good, but the race shape was pretty ordinary. It was stop, start, and he was too close and he won’t go on the inside of horses as every time he’s won, he’s been down the middle of the track and Willie (Pike) knows that now.
“I went back over his last 10 starts and his times have been comparable all the way through and when I did that exercise, I was a lot more comfortable.”
Begg explained that the 1600m race was designed to provide Zakouma with a solid gallop leading into Tuesday’s race.
He had planned a 1400m jump-out at Cranbourne two days later, but his fears were realised when Zakouma was the only nomination and the jump-outs were washed-out due to a waterlogged track from the previous day’s heavy rain.
“We dodged a bullet there and everything has been good since,” Begg confirmed.
“He had his final piece of work on the grass at Cranbourne next to the rail on Friday and galloped strongly and a light piece of work on Sunday.”
Begg noted a heightened sense of anticipation within the stable as Tuesday’s race approaches.
“It’s very exciting,” Begg enthused.
“In the last few days there’s a bit more of a buzz in the stable.
“The horse has had to do his trot ups, and a lot of the staff went to the races on Saturday supporting our runners, including a few of the girls that ride trackwork, there was a whole big team of them.
“We’re all looking forward to Tuesday.”
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