Melbourne trainer Grahame Begg believes Cardinal Gem has a point to prove after finally getting a run in Saturday’s Golden Eagle at Rosehill.
Cardinal Gem will take the place of Brigantine, which was scratched by Godolphin on Wednesday. Begg’s gelding was controversially left as the first emergency when the final field was declared on Tuesday.
Cardinal Gem has got a run in Saturday’s Golden Eagle after the scratching of Brigantine.Credit:Racing Photos
“We are going to be like the seagull on a chip, swooping down to take the Golden Eagle,” Begg said. “I still feel it is inexcusable what happened, and it has left a sour taste in our mouths, but the horse is in the race we have targeted and will be in the finish.”
Begg was furious at an adjustment to the rating of Welwal last week, which saw Chris Waller’s French import jump Cardinal Gem in order and take the last spot in the field.
The Golden Eagle’s $10 million prize pool has an extra $20,000 after Racing NSW made a late decision to extend the field from 18 to 20 runners. The final two across the line will get a $10,000 payday.
Begg believes Cardinal Gem will take a bigger slice of the prizemoney, particularly with the way the Golden Eagle looks as though it will be run.
He was delighted to draw gate five. Cardinal Gem will be looking for a hat-trick of wins after a victory at Flemington before taking the Weekend Hussler Stakes on Caulfield Guineas day.
“It’s why we got so upset when he missed the field because we think the form he is in, he is going to be right in the finish,” Begg said. “When I saw the draw [on Tuesday night], I was just hoping to get run.
“He should get in the right spot, and he is going to relish what looks like being a very fast run race.”
Once he got a run, Cardinal Gem was supported from $51 to $26 in the Golden Eagle, where classy import Light Infantry remains the $4.20 favourite. Only Chain Of Lightning at $6 and In the Congo at $8.50 are also under the $10 mark in an open market.
Jamie Spencer has come out from England to ride Light Infantry, which was a group 1 runner-up at Deauville at his last start, and was delighted to draw the middle of the field in barrier eight.
“There’s no signals that he won’t bring his best, but this is a different test. It’s 1500m around a turn with 20 horses in it, but he’s adaptable and I’m pleased with the draw,” Spencer said.
“He’s quite an active horse and he seems to have everything that it takes to run in a race like this, so it’s an exciting challenge.”
On the other side of luck with the barrier draw was Team Hawkes as Hilal and Mr Mozart drew barriers 17 and 23.
“It always matters [what you draw] and barriers do win races in this day and age,” Michael Hawkes said.
Mr Mozart has not had much luck this preparation as he has been runner-up in the Theo Marks Quality and the Silver Eagle. Hawkes said Mr Mozart will be ridden aggressively and use his natural speed from the wide draw.
“Our bloke always rolls forward and this track [Rosehill] has been very kind to him – he hit three [wins] in a row here,” Hawkes said. “He just has to go to the next level.”
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