Nonconformist Blows Them Away in Blamey Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday March 4

Stable favourite Nonconformist completed a red-letter day for the Grahame Begg stable with a jaw-dropping performance in the Group II Tab Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

How easy was that? (image Grant Courtney)

Still celebrating the win of Passive Aggressive over Eduardo and Giga Kick in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick, Grahame Begg watched on from his old stamping ground as Nonconformist turned back the clock.

Ridden by Harry Coffey, the 6yo son of Rebel Raider came from well back to defeat the Exceed And Excel gelding Pounding by a widening two and a quarter lengths.

The Zoustar 3yo Zou Tiger was a further half-length back in third.

Making his reappearance since finishing unplaced in the Caulfield Cup last spring, Nonconformist advanced his record to six wins, four seconds, and four thirds from 25 starts with earnings of $1,918,900.

Advertisement

Stable representative Chris Hyland said it came as a pleasant surprise.

“His trials have been ok, and we thought that now he’s a bit older he might take a bit of time, Hyland said.

“But having said that, I watched him in other preparations, and he’s kicked off in races with no tempo.

“This race had really good tempo, and then just before the turn, he was starting to smoke up and you got a feel that he was going to be in the race,  So, that was probably the first time he’s got a bit of tempo.

“I think Grahame was happy to see how he kicked off and then see what opened up from there, but the Australian Cup and All-Star Mile come under consideration.”

Time to celebrate (image Grant Courtney)

A homebred for the Henwood family, Nonconformist is the best of two winners from as many foals for the Hold That Tiger mare Good Thinking who raced in the same colours as Nonconformist.

She won three races and placed at Flemington and Moonee Valley. Sadly, both Nonconformist’s sire and dam are no longer with us.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Blamey Stakes Gr2 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:35.53
1
Nonconformist
- 6g Rebel Raider (AUS) x Good Thinking (AUS) (Hold That Tiger (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: H Coffey 55
2
2.3
Pounding
- 4g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Silent Entrance (GB) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 57
3
2.8
Bankers Choice
- 5g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Signorina (NZ) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: John Allen 57
4
3.5
Gentleman Roy
- 6g So You Think (NZ) x La La Land (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 57
5
3.6
Riyazan
- 8g Iffraaj (GB) x Riyaba (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: Lisa Jones Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55
6
3.9
Uncle Bryn
- 5g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Wall Of Sound (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Shinn 56
7
4.4
Lunar Flare
- 7m Fiorente (IRE) x My Fair Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: M J Dee 55
8
4.6
Smokin' Romans
- 6g Ghibellines (AUS) x Inferno (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Damian Lane 59
9
4.7
Tuvalu
- 5g Kermadec (NZ) x Hangin' Tough (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Jarrod Fry 59
10
5.4
Callsign Mav
- 6g Atlante (AUS) x Raadisi (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: J Mott 59
11
5.8
Bear Story
- 5h Kodiac (GB) x Angels Story (IRE) ( ())
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: B Melham 56
12
7.6
Hezashocka
- 5g Shocking (AUS) x Shezakiwi (NZ) (Brilliance (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Oliver 55
13
8.1
So Si Bon
- 9g So You Think (NZ) x Black Minx (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
14
10.1
Port Philip
- 5g Camelot (GB) x Aymara (GB) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: Beau Mertens 55
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 20
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 21
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Rebel Raider's Nonconformist Blows Them Away in Alister Clark
The Grahame Begg-trained Nonconformist had a length and a quarter to make up on Adelaide Ace on their last run in the Group II Caulfield Autumn Classic but he did that and some in Friday night’s Group II Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Farnan Half-Sister Bolts in at Warwick Farm
When a half-sister by Zoustar to Golden Slipper winner Farnan sells for just $250,000 at Inglis Easter you would be entitled to wonder what was wrong with her, but it turns out lack of size does not mean lack of ability.
G1 York International Delivers Nail Biting Spectacle
Last year the Group I Juddmonte International (1m2 ½ f) at York produced a virtuoso performance from City of Troy (USA), who will be paraded at Coolmore Australia this Sunday and the overnight renewal of the race produced a Pride of Jenni like spectacle before the favourite Ombudsman prevailed to win.
Kia Ora Cancel Saturday Parade
It is with much regret that the management team at Kia Ora announce the cancellation of the Kia Ora Stallion Parade to be held on Saturday 23rd August 2025.
Debut Winner for Doubtland
Standing at Widden Victoria, Not a Single Doubt’s young sire son Doubtland was one of the sires we saw in Victoria last week and he produced a stylish debut winner at Warrnambool on Thursday.
Twain Chasing Family History
Twain will be out to replicate the deeds of his dam when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Widden Parade Braves the Rain
Widden Stud’s annual series of stallion parades in the ‘Valley of Champions’ kicked off as scheduled on Thursday with the reigning Champion Australian Sire Zoustar the centre of attention, while the world’s fastest horse Cogburn (USA) also made his debut in Australia.
First foal for Cambridge Stud's Chaldean
The first Southern Hemisphere bred foal by Cambridge Stud stallion Chaldean (GB) has hit the ground with a filly foal out of the winning Burgundy mare Top Note born at Pencarrow Stud.