Winning the MRC Foundation Cup took the pressure off Grahame Begg with his planning for Nonconformist towards the Caulfield Cup.
Instead of “having to win” the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, Nonconformist instead will run in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m).
Although only pitted against five opponents, it will not be an easy task as Nonconformist will shape up against Cox Plate favourite Zaaki on Saturday.
But that does not bother Begg as Saturday’s race was the one selected following his win in the MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes).
“It gave him a nice break of three weeks between runs and broke up that two weeks, two weeks cycle,” Begg said.
“I think getting that extra week has been really beneficial.
“He had a bit of an easy week after the Naturalism before upping the ante in the last week-and-a-half.
“He galloped well on the course proper on Tuesday at Caulfield in company and I’m really happy with the way he’s going.”
Nonconformist has only had one previous try at 2400m, finishing second in the Mornington Cup (2400m) in March, a race Begg said gave no real guide to Nonconformist’s ability to run the trip.
“The Mornington Cup was a run at a farcical speed, but it was his first attempt at a mile-and-a-half and he rounded it off really well,” Begg said.
“He gets in nicely at the weights, 51.5 kilos, and we’ve geared him up for this race for 12 months.”
Craig Williams has been booked for the 2021 Caulfield Cup ride while regular rider Jordan Childs takes the ride on Saturday with Williams to partner Zaaki.
All Begg wants to see on Saturday is for Nonconformist to be finishing the race off nicely.
Nonconformist is a $13 chance with TAB while Zaaki, as he did in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Sandown on September 25, has a stranglehold on early betting as the $1.28 favourite.