The Randwick-based trainer has prepared a winner at four of the past six metropolitan race days, striking again with the promising Wine ‘N’ Dine on the Australian Turf Club’s Newcastle meeting yesterday.
Begg’s winning surge started with Major Major at the Canterbury night meeting on December 21, continued with Fedde at Rosehill on Boxing Day and again with Bennetta at Canterbury last Saturday before Wine ‘N’ Dine’s strong win at Newcastle.
Despite being unplaced in his first eight starts, Wine ‘N’ Dine’s breakthrough victory in the Chevals Restaurant Plate (1600m) wasn’t unexpected by the trainer.
“It was well documented he had no luck last start, he only got out in the last 150m and really sprouted wings to the line,” Begg said.
“It has taken him a while to find his feet but now he has got one on board, he can go on to bigger and better things.”
Wine ‘N’ Dine is raced by George Moratoff, best known as the owner of triple Group 1 winner Bentley Biscuit.
Meanwhile, Gai Waterhouse, who prepared Bentley Biscuit, has taken over as the trainer of another English stayer Rule Book in preparation for the Melbourne Cup later this year.
Waterhouse almost pulled off a coup when import Fiorente ran second behind Green Moon in the Melbourne Cup last spring at his first start for the trainer.
She will soon take charge of the Queen’s horse Carlton House, who is in quarantine at Werribee.
CHRISTIAN Reith is the replacement rider for the suspended Corey Brown on $1 million Magic Millions Guineas contender She’s A Stalker.