Road to the Cup on Andrew Ramsden Race Day

Begg gets another Cup shot via Zakouma

Grahame Begg’s first attempt at Melbourne Cup glory with a winner of the Andrew Ramsden ended in heartbreak, but he is hoping to have better luck later this year.

Zakouma ensured the Cranbourne trainer can start planning a path towards Australia’s greatest race after winning the Andrew Ramsden at Flemington on Saturday.

That 2800-metre event carries not only $300,000 in stakes and Listed status, but also a prized ballot exemption from the $10 million Melbourne Cup.

Begg won the 2023 Andrew Ramsden with Lunar Flare, who failed to make it to the post on Melbourne Cup Day and he said Zakouma already being locked away in the 3200m Group 1 would make his job easier.

“This horse, he's a true staying horse,” Begg said.

“He’s a horse I can run over a trip, first-up in an 1800 (metre race) or something like that, so we’ll just tail it around him and getting him here fit and well on the first Tuesday (in November).”

Zakouma, a five-year-old son of Crowded House, took his record to five wins from 14 starts with his resolute three-quarters-of-a-length victory over Pounding ($10) and $71 outsider Chartwell House under Jordan Childs.

Stanley doubles up at Flemington

Victory in the $175,000 Listed Straight Six capped a red-letter day for in-form jockey Jett Stanley.

The dominant win aboard Losesomewinmore gave the 22-year-old his first Stakes win at Flemington and gave him a double having earlier won aboard a filly who might take him to even greater heights.

Stanley earlier partnered exciting filly Concord Connie to another Flemington win, following her six-length win at the same track on Anzac Day.

The win aboard Concord Connie was the 200^th career success for Stanley, the son of Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Brent Stanley.

Saturday’s successes followed earlier breakout wins in 2026 for Stanley, who in March won the Group 2 Adelaide Cup aboard American Wolf and has also posted Group 3 wins in the Hobart Cup and Victoria Handicap of late and he is thrilled to be reaping the rewards of hard work.

“It's been going well and to be able to kick off Group winner after Stakes winner after Group winner is something I'm quite proud of and quite chuffed with myself,” he said.

“I've just put in a lot of time and a lot of effort into my craft and that's what I want to do. I want to be the very best of the best and I think putting myself in that position to do so, you can see the results on the track.”

Losesomewinmore, who is trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained gelding, started $15 and scored by two lengths from well-backed $2.90 favourite De Bergerac, who finished one length clear of Herecomesthestar ($17).

No whip, no worries for Connie

There was of repeat of the Anzac Day gap-job, but Concord Connie reinforced her status as one of the Victoria’s most promising female gallopers.

The Charlotte Littlefield-trained daughter of Contributer cruised to a 1-1/4-length win in the $150,000 K A Morrison Handicap (1400m) for three-year-olds.

The winning margin might not have been as emphatic as her win at the same track three weeks earlier, but it came after rider Jett Stanley dropped the whip midway down the straight, which only added merit to the performance in the eyes of her trainer.

“Obviously she wasn't quite as dominant today, but now we find out why,” Littlefield said minutes after the win.

“But he probably went one too many with the ‘shillelagh’ (whip) last time, and this time he couldn't use it at all.

“She’s a horse that wants to be a racehorse and I think she enjoys that challenge, and she probably just wanted a bit more of a challenge today.”

Despite travelling whip-free over the concluding stages, Concord Connie – the $1.35 favourite – defeated Flying Done ($17) with The Volta ($8.50) a further 1-1/4 lengths back third.

Littlefield now has several months to plan a spring path for Concord Connie but the Pakenham trainer said her liking for Flemington meant she was a big chance to be directed towards the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day.

Ryan thinking big with Autumn Charm

Flemington trainer Nick Ryan has long thought Autumn Charm would be capable of winning some nice races as a spring three-year-old, his dilemma now is whether he chases Black Type honours before then.

The daughter of The Autumn Sun broke her maiden in style with victory in the $150,000 TAB We’re On 2YO Handicap (1400m) that kicked off the Andrew Ramsden program.

Autumn Charm, who started $4 favourite in an open affair, defeated $31 shot Vertigo by 1-1/4 lengths with three-quarters-of-a-length back to Warrnambool Carnival winner Centenary Florin ($5.50).

Saturday’s event was a heat of the Taj Rossi Series, which culminates with a $175,000 Listed final over 1600m at Flemington on July 4, but there are also suitable options Group in Brisbane and Ryan said he was going to enjoy working out what would suit her best.

“We got a Sires’ in Queensland in two weeks too, so I guess tomorrow morning's trot up will tell us that,” Ryan said.

“She could be a spring hope. We could take her up there (Queensland) and spell her, but I'll discuss it with the owners and we'll go from there with. You don’t make decisions on race day.”

The $1 million Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on May 30, two weeks before the Group 1 J J Atkins, which is also worth $1m.

Danza delivers for Cumani

While Ryan is at least open to a trip north, Matt Cumani all but ruled it out for Brave Danza, who scored a breakthrough win in the Trevor Clark 3YO Handicap.

The son of Brave Smash recorded his second career win, and first since a narrow maiden success at Geelong in October, when the $4.20 cruised to a one-length win over $101 shot She’s Got The Cash in the 2000-metre event.

The Trevor Clarke Steeplechase was a heat of the Mahogany Series, which has a $200,000 2500m final on the same day as the Taj Rossi Final, and Cumani said he was more likely to remain a part of that series than raise the bar for a crack at the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

“I think we'll probably keep him here, he’s a horse that does get a little bit nervous – we've seen with every race he's just a little bit more sweaty, a bit more anxious pre-race – so I don't want to go too deep with him,” Cumani said.

“I think he's one that'll keep improving into next year, but we might just see how far we go with this series here in Flemington close to home.

“Whether 2500 is the right race from, I don't know. We'll have a look at the sectionals afterwards and really unpick the race.”

Boy building Wonderful 1600m record

Wonder Boy has used this campaign to dismiss any thoughts he might be suspect at running a strong ‘mile’ and, as such, Jerome Hunter is set to raise the bar with the gelding next campaign.

The Mornington trainer identified Perth’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), which is run in November, as a possible option for the four-year-old after he made it two wins and a narrow second from three starts at 1600m this time in.

The start prior to Saturday he was beaten a whisker in the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo, which followed an explosive benchmark 84 win on his home track.

The son of Cosmic Force got home over the top of classy mare Oh Too Good on Saturday, scoring by three-quarters-of-a-length in the $150,000 L V Lachal Handicap (1600m), with Verdad a half-length away third.

“He’s an older horse now and probably when he was younger, he had a bit more of a sprint on him, but now he can relax and he's getting into a rhythm,” Hunter said before praising wining rider, Craig Newitt.

“The ride was 10 out of 10.”

Flemington first for Shepherdson

Michael Shepherdson celebrated many Flemington wins during his time as assistant trainer with Tony McEvoy, but he got to enjoy one of his own on Saturday.

The Geelong trainer prepared his first winner at the famous venue when Ghetto Supastar took out the $130,000 Murray Cox Handicap (1800m) that rounded out the card.

Ghetto Supastar, who started $31 and scored narrowly from Skippers Canyon ($3.60), was the first horse Shepherdson bought after gaining his trainer’s licence and Shepherdson was thrilled to land the milestone success.

“It's a bucket list thing to do,” Shepherdson said.

“I spent quite a bit of time here with Tony and Calvin and we had some great times here at Flemington, so I'm sure they'll get as much of a kick as I have today.”