Grahame Begg is already looking to next season with his star mare Magic Time after deciding against pushing on to the season’s final Group 1, the Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm in late June.
An uncharacteristic performance in the Stradbroke Handicap last Saturday, where she finished 14th, left Begg at a loss to explain what had happened, after the dual G1 winner had finished eighth the start before in the Kingsford-Smith Stakes.
“It was a very funny track as it was hard and loose on top,” Begg said of the Eagle Farm surface last Saturday. “She had excuses in the Kingsford Smith as she twisted a plate when jumping and also got galloped on in the race.”
As for her next campaign, Begg will be looking to target Spring Carnival features with the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and All Aged Stakes winner.
“I’ll give her a month and then assess whether we need to give her longer or not. It’s a tight turnaround though,” he added.
Begg also confirmed that another of his gifted performers, G2 Challenge Stakes winner Passive Aggressive, has again been retired to stud and is likely to visit Zoustar.
– racing.com
