Grahame Begg raised a few eyebrows when declaring Cardinal Gem a Group 1 horse after winning his most recent start on a heavy 10 at Flemington.
The 4yo son of Choisir may have won over a few more fans when opening his stakes account in the Listed Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Given an enterprising ride by Jordan Childs, Cardinal Gem defeated the veteran Mossman gelding Morvada by three-quarters of a length, with the consistent Jimmy Creed (USA) gelding Jimmy The Bear a further long neck back in third.
A model of consistency, Cardinal Gem advances his record to four wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $325,985.
Childs said he had a few concerns early in the race.
“I ended up a fair way back than I wanted to be, but when the pace came out of it on the side, I elected to pop out and try and get myself a bit closer,” Childs said.
“The probably ended up being the winning move in the end.
“Very deserving of it, this horse. He’s had bad luck at various times, but it is good to see him starting to get some results.
Grahame Begg will up his sights again with the son of Choisir.
“He might run in the Linlithgow over 1400 metres. It’s also a handicap. Hopefully, his rating will go up, and he’ll get into that race," Begg said.
“But he’s got a decent race in him, this horse. I don’t know if it is this year, maybe next year.”
Cardinal Gem was a $60,000 purchase for Grahame Begg Racing / Rohan Hughes from the Gippsland Bloodstock draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale Showcase.
Gippsland Bloodstock had pinhooked the son of Choisir for $32,000 from Aquis Farm at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Cardinal Gem is the first foal of the Turffontein mare Eloquent Ruby, a sister to Group II VRC Edward Manifold stakes winner Fontein Ruby and a half to Group III winner The Mitigator and stakes-placed Palumbo.
Fontein Ruby is the dam of Group II MRC Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Parure (Fastnet Rock) and a $500,000 Justify filly named Fontaine Rouge, who is in training with Maher and Eustice.
Eloquent Ruby's colt from the first crop of Lean Mean Machine was a $230,000 purchase for L Smith / Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
After foaling a colt by Lean Mean Machine last spring, Eloquent Ruby was covered by Toronado (IRE).
Cardinal Gem is the 105th stakes-winner for the trailblazer Choisir, whose final crop of thirteen foals race this season.
