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.

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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.

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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
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