Grahame Begg believes the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes is the perfect next step for promising colt Royal Insignia as he looks to establish himself as a leading contender for the Group 1 Australian Guineas.
The C.S. Hayes Stakes, for three-year-old colts and geldings, will be run over 1400m at Flemington on Saturday.
It serves as a key lead-up race to the Australian Guineas, held at the same track over 1600m two weeks later.
A full brother to stallion Written By—who Begg trained to victory in the 2018 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes—Royal Insignia has already shown his potential with three wins from five starts.
After securing back-to-back wins against his own age group in November, Royal Insignia was given a break before returning with an impressive performance to claim the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on January 25, finishing strongly late to secure victory.
“We think he’s a very progressive horse,” Begg said.
“He’s quite lightly raced, and he just seems to be getting better each time he goes to the races.
“He’s getting more professional about the way he goes about it. It just looks a nice progression race to go to.
“He won first-up in the Manfred and now goes to the C.S. Hayes, and we feel that he will be very well suited to Flemington and 1400 metres.”
Should Royal Insignia meet expectations on Saturday, the plan is for him to head towards the Australian Guineas, with Begg confident the colt has the talent to compete at the highest level.
“We rate him highly,” Begg said.
“That (Australian Guineas) is the plan at this stage. Obviously, he’s got to take the next step, but we just feel it’s a nice transition of races for him from 1200 to 1400 on Saturday.
“He’s had a three-week break between runs, and then it will be two weeks into the Guineas.”
Jamie Mott, who has partnered Royal Insignia in all three of his wins, will miss Saturday’s meeting due to a careless riding suspension.
However, Begg confirmed Mott will regain the ride for the Australian Guineas.
“He gets a jockey change on Saturday, Craig Williams is riding him,” Begg said.
“Jamie Mott is suspended, but Jamie is confirmed as riding him in the Guineas.”
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