Written by Paul Vettise
Grahame Begg has high hopes that lightning can strike twice on his home track at Caulfield when his gifted filly Dosh (Rich Enuff) puts her unbeaten record on the line in Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S.
The trainer celebrated victory in the 2-year-old feature in 2018 with the now Widden Stud resident Written By and he too had won both of his lead-up starts with Begg favourably comparing his current star to the son of Written Tycoon.
“She has done everything we have asked of her so far, so it will be exciting to be there again,” he said. “She is certainly on a par with Written By.”
He went on to finish fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and won the G3 Blue Sapphire S. the following season and was fourth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., and Begg looks to has another particularly bright prospect in Dosh.
“She’s still untapped and there will be better-credentialled horses in the race I guess, and some have forgotten about her a bit, but that’s okay,” Begg said. “It’s just a matter of getting her there fit and well on the day.”
Dosh was successful on debut in the G3 Ottawa S. in the spring and returned last month to win the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies).
Replacement rider
She was ridden both times by Written By’s regular pilot Jordan Childs, but he has had to forego the ride at Caulfield after suffering a fractured shoulder in a fall at Moonee Valley last Friday evening. Jye McNeil will take the reins in his absence.
“These things happen in racing and Jordan had been working extremely hard. He was riding well so it’s a shame for him,” Begg said.
He purchased Dosh for $155,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where she was offered by Glenlogan Park.
“She comes from a very good female line and right from the get-go she was on to it. She was a big, upstanding filly and we were very taken with her,” he said.
Dosh as a yearling
Dosh is a daughter of Raise Up (Shovhog), who was successful six times, and comes from a well-performed 2-year-old family that includes the G1 Golden Slipper S. winners Merlene (Danehill {USA}) and Capitalist, who has made an exciting start to his stud career for Newgate.
Begg will also have a strong support crew at Caulfield on Saturday with Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) in the G2 Peter Young S. and Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G2 Autumn S.
Winner of the G3 Coongy H. in the spring, Nonconformist recently resumed in the G3 Carlyon Cup.
“He ran third first-up and got home well in a very slowly-run race,” Begg said. “Nonconformist is going well and Luke Currie takes the ride. He’s progressing and his main goal is the G1 Australian Cup so this is a stepping stone.”
“He’s (Nonconformist) progressing and his main goal is the G1 Australian Cup so this is a stepping stone.” – Grahame Begg
Butter Chicken has made a bright start to her career and was second at Cranbourne in her first appearance before breaking her maiden at Pakenham.
“She’s a very well-bred filly and cost NZ$800,000 and is a half-sister to the Zoustar filly Te Akau bought this year at Karaka for NZ$800,000,” Begg said.
“She’s well-credentialled and we’ve waited for this race and it's a nice opportunity to step her up. She had a good jump-out last week and is a nice filly.”
Butter Chicken (NZ) as a yearling
Both fillies were bred by Sir Peter Vela and sold through his Pencarrow Stud draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale. Butter Chicken was bought by Dean Hawthorne on behalf of Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing.
They are daughters of the G3 Meld S. winner and G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Scintillula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a sister to Cuis Ghaire (Ire). She won the G3 Albany S. and was second in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas.
