The stage is now set for “the Big Dance” that is the $1.5 Million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. And Master trainer Grahame Begg winner of 14 Group 1 Races reckons his undefeated Colt Written By (pictured) is ready to Tango.
“I couldn’t possibly be happier with him”. “He’s actually added weight, strengthened up and improved since the Prelude win and I’m sure when the Punters and Patrons view him in the Mounting Yard at 4.00pm tomorrow afternoon they’ll see a far better article than what they saw two weeks ago”.
“His attitude is very focused and professional and everything that I’ve done with him work wise since the Prelude has been spot on”. “I’m very confident that where he finishes and the performance he gives tomorrow afternoon will be his absolute best”
Begg was both respectful of his opposition along with the outside Barrier that Written By and jockey Jordan Childs will have to negotiate.
“We’ve done a lot of form on the race and believe our Colt is a legitimate winning chance and one of the horses to beat”. “But it is a Group 1 race and all of Written By’s opponents tomorrow but will be cherry ripe for the Group 1 and at their very best on the day”. “There won’t be much margin for error from any of the horses including Written By”
“There’s no doubt we’ll need luck and fortune from that wide barrier but I have a real calm and peace when it comes to Jordy Childs”. “He seems to have a head on his shoulders that is light years ahead of his age”. “He’s had two rides on the horse and has a very good understanding of him and his skill set”. “My confidence is such with him that I’ll be pretty much leaving it up to him once he gets out there”. “He can ride on instinct and as it happens from the time the gates open”. “He’s got the horse underneath him and that type of talent”.
Begg will also be represented earlier in the day with his 3yo staying filly Blue Jay Way in the $200,000 Group 2 Autumn Classic.
“She’s had no luck this preparation enduring a set back about a month ago that stopped her from going to the Tasmanian Oaks and then missed another run with the abandonment of the Stony Creek meeting the week before last”. “It’s hard to find suitable races for staying 3yo fillies right at the moment so she needed a race and gets that tomorrow”. “They’ll likely be too slick for her but I’ll be happy for her to have a nice hit out and round it off strongly at the end”. “She’s still very lightly raced and raw but think she’s got a nice future going forward as a staying filly/mare”.