Smart mare Niance the best of Grahame Begg’s hand at Caulfield on Saturday

Trainer Grahame Begg cannot defend the Rupert Clarke Stakes on Saturday but a talented trio could allow the astute Cranbourne horseman to cherry pick the undercard at Caulfield.

Trainer Grahame Begg cannot defend the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on Saturday but a talented trio could allow the astute Cranbourne horseman to cherry pick the undercard at Caulfield.

Begg has Miraval Rose in the Listed Village Stakes (1100m), Rich Dottie in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Stakes (1200m) and Niance in the Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m).

Miraval Rose was touched off in the Thoroughbred Club last year and denied Begg a treble on the card after Magic Time (Rupert Clarke) and Rose Quartz (How Now) saluted.

Miraval Rose is first-up on Saturday after a three-start Sydney-Brisbane winter campaign, while Rich Dottie took on the boys last month at The Valley and prevailed comfortably.

Niance has won four of five starts with Begg after starting her career in New Zealand.

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“All three have certainly got credentials in the races they’re assigned to,” Begg said.

“We’ve gradually stepped the bar up with Niance, she’s got a very good record and it would be nice to see her take the next step.”

Niance is a $2.60 favourite with Ladbrokes in the How Now.

Rich Dottie ($4) is also favourite for the Thoroughbred Club, a wide open race on Saturday with several chances.

“She couldn’t have done any more than she did against the boys last start,” Begg said.

“She did it at both ends, bounced, put herself outside the leader and kicked away.

“We’ve targeted this race for some time with her.”

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Miraval Rose has conditions to suit – fast ground – but Begg conceded the mare could be vulnerable at 1100m first-up.

Wet tracks in Sydney and Brisbane blunted the 1400m Listed winner’s output earlier in the year.

Rising Fast winner Maharba is scheduled to arrive in Perth on Saturday to prepare for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 30 at Ascot.

Magic Time is spelling for autumn after being runner-up in The Invitation and Hot Danish Stakes in Sydney.

Originally published as Smart mare Niance the best of Grahame Begg’s hand at Caulfield on Saturday