Grahame Begg will decide Lunar Flare’s path to the 2023 Melbourne Cup after she runs in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Begg said Lunar Flare will have her final lead-in run before the Melbourne Cup in either the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Friday, October 27 or the Cox Plate the following day.
“I would say the Moonee Valley Cup is the more likely option but if she ran very well in the Turnbull, then the Cox Plate would certainly enter the equation a bit more,” Begg said.
Begg said he wasn’t worried by Lunar Flare’s last start last placing in the Underwood Stakes behind Alligator Blood.
“We are very happy with her. She doesn’t go at all at Caulfield. Her sectionals were still very good although she got beaten 10 lengths,” Begg said.
Begg is training Lunar Flare to peak in the Melbourne Cup, as he has the luxury of her having an automatic start in the race after she won the Andrew Ramsden Stakes by five-and-a-half lengths on May 13.
“I do want to see more from her though. Back to Flemington, a bit of give in the ground. She’ll be running well and she should be putting her hand up,” he said.
Begg said he didn’t bother paying up for the Caulfield Cup because of her poor record at the track.
Meanwhile Begg said Nonconformist, who finished seventh in the Underwood Stakes, will have his next start in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 14, before he runs in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) the following Saturday.
– racing.com
