Land Of Plenty ready to put horror show behind him

Ben Dorries - Friday October 6

Grahame Begg feels Land Of Plenty has come through his horror Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes run in decent shape and is ready to rumble on the quick back-up in Saturday's Group II Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Advertisement
It was a horror show for backers of Land Of Plenty in the Group I Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

It was an awful watch for Land Of Plenty backers last Sunday as the Stratum gelding, ridden by Linda Meech, endured a torrid run.

The four-year-old sat four-wide back in the field in a strongly run race and things only got worse from there as he made an early move and was pushed off the Caulfield track on the home turn by Mr Sneaky and Scales Of Justice.

Begg thinks it was an incredible effort for him to finish just three lengths from the winner, Santa Ana Lane, when he had every excuse to hoist the white flag and run a long last.

"We've been sent some statistics and they show that Land Of Plenty actually ran eight metres further than the winner in the Rupert Clarke," Begg said.

"There hasn't been much history of Rupert Clarke runners backing up into the Gilgai but I'm happy to do it with this guy.

"He is back to his fighting weight and it is certainly not like I have had to do much fitness work with him after the run he had last Sunday.

"I was keen to run in this as he doesn't like running at Caulfield and there is racing at Caulfield the next three weeks."

Land Of Plenty is $11 in the Gilgai Stakes and some punters may question whether he would be suited dropping back from 1400m to 1200m.

Begg says it is a fair question but he reckons Land Of Plenty will be well suited as he thinks you need a strong 1400m horse to win down the straight six at Flemington (1200m).

"I do think you generally need a 1400m horse to win this race and Land Of Plenty is exactly that," Begg said.

"He definitely appreciates straight racing because these days most straight races aren't run that quickly, so he is able to go back and slowly build up his momentum.

"He was only three lengths off Redkirk Warrior in the Bobbie Lewis so surely that to be pretty decent form.

"He has drawn barrier one, which sometimes hasn't been that favourable in straight racing, but it is only a small field which will suit him.

"Dwayne Dunn will hold him up and he will be finding the line strongly."

Begg thinks Land Of Plenty is over the odds at $11 on Saturday and he is keen to get him to the Group II Linlithgow Stakes over 1200m at Flemington on November 4.

As for Begg, he says he is thriving in his new life training at Pinecliff on the Mornington Peninsula.

Begg trained 14 Group I winners in his former life in NSW, including the likes of Secret Admirer and All Silent, but took a break from the hectic Sydney scene and has returned rejuvenated in his new Victorian base.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New Cup Goal for Wolfgang
It may not be the Cup target they were aiming for, but Wolfgang put himself firmly into Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) calculations following his victory in the SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on Monday.
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
First Winner for King of Comedy
Novara Park Stud stallion King Of Comedy (IRE) is on the board as a sire, with his son Sir Ruby becoming his first winner when victorious over 1300m at Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale (November 12 and 13) is online with breeze up video now in place and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Impressive First winner for Armory
Mapperley Stud stallion Armory recorded his first winner on Sunday when his two-year-old daughter Silhouette raced to a dominant victory in the Fusion Electrical Two-Year-Old (900m) at Trentham.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 27
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Rewarding Weekend for Waikato Stud
A double strike at stakes level, a filly with a black-type future and a welcome family success handed Waikato Stud another rewarding weekend.
Melbourne Cup Dream Alive for Kiwi Stayers
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) dreams are still alive for connections of Kiwi stayers Mark Twain and Trav.