Trainer Grahame Begg has Royal Insignia set to rebound in Australian Guineas
Trainer Grahame Begg has Royal Insignia primed to bounce back in the Group 1 Australian Guineas after the well-bred colt failed in wet conditions last start.
Royal Insignia has the talent and right conditions to make a mark in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on Saturday at Flemington.
The three-year-old blue-blood colt, who only battled on a rain-affected surface at Flemington last start when seventh as favourite in the Group 3 CS Hayes (1400m), looms as a sharp improver back on top of the ground.
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Royal Insignia, a brother of trainer Grahame Begg’s Blue Diamond winner Written By and half-sibling to Group 1-placed C’est Magique, won the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) first-up.
The Manfred form has already been franked with runner-up Tropicus victorious in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) last Saturday.
Begg has urged punters to forgive Royal Insignia for the CS Hayes performance.
“He’ll be in it (Australian Guineas) right up to his ears,” Begg said.
“We were so happy with him (going into the CS Hayes) and he hasn’t lost anything.
“His wheels just spin (on wet tracks) … he’s hopeless, we took him to Pakenham (first start) and he got beaten on a heavy track.
“Craig (Williams) said he was gone at the 1000m (in the CS Hayes) … to his (Royal Insignia) credit ran seventh.
“It was a deteriorating track, a (Soft) 7 and everyone tells you it was an (Heavy) 8.”
A sunny 26C forecast for Saturday should ensure a perfect Good 4 surface at Flemington.
Begg said Royal Insignia remained “every bit” a Group 1-calibre colt.
“If it’s not this time around, it’s next time,” Begg said.
• Melbourne Cup champ craves Group 1 in adopted state
Favourite Angel Capital is $4.20 for the Australian Guineas from CS Hayes winner Sepals ($6) and Sydney raider Point And Shoot ($6).
Feroce ($10), Savaglee ($11) and Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru ($11) round out the top five in early markets.
Royal Insignia ($16) has drawn widest of the main contenders.
Jockey Jamie Mott, who rode Royal Insignia in the Manfred, is back aboard the colt with Williams now on Plymouth ($17).
Plymouth placed second to Angel Capital in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) last start.
Blake Shinn, who rode Plymouth in the Autumn Stakes, has stuck with CS Hayes winner Sepals.
Originally published as Trainer Grahame Begg has Royal Insignia set to rebound in Australian Guineas
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