Written By Puts Begg in Winner’s Circle Again

Tara Madgwick - Sunday February 23

Grahame Begg is understandably a fan of the progeny of Widden Stud’s Written By, who he trained to win the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in 2018, and it was one of the stallion’s daughters that had the trainer in the winner’s circle for the first race at Caulfield on Saturday.

Samangu wins at Caulfield - image George Salpigtidis / Racing Photos

Lightly raced mare Samangu has been a work in progress, but made it four wins from six starts when she led and skipped clear to win the 1100m mares race by half a length.

She had one run as a two year-old before a lengthy break and the four year-old has put together a tidy record since returning to race last October and has now earned over $200,000 in prizemoney.

Advertisement

Begg is in no rush to step her up in grade too quickly, but clearly believes Samangu has more to offer.

Samangu has a lot of happy owners! - image Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

A $200,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Willow Park Stud for Rohan J Hughes Thoroughbred Services / Grahame Begg Racing, Samangu was a successful pinhook having been purchased originally for $42,000 from the Davali Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Weanling Sale.

Bred by Bylong Park, Samangu is the first winner for Estelle, an unraced full sister to Group I winning mare Driefontein, who is now at stud in Japan.

Written By has had plenty of winners  since the start of the year including his brilliant two year-old filly The Playwright, who won the Group III ATC Widden Stakes and was a brave fourth in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes on Saturday.

Advertisment

Race Result - HKJC World Pool Hcp 1100m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:04.26
1
Samangu
- 4m Written By (AUS) x Estelle (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 54
2
0.5
Miss Aria
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Bonaria (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: B Shinn 58
3
2.8
Mrs Chrissie
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Turf Fire (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Jamie Melham 56.5
4
3.2
Pondalowie
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Glorious Red (AUS) (Red Element (AUS))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: Jett Stanley 52
5
3.3
Herbert Park
- 4m Toronado (IRE) x Elite Elle (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: A W Noonan Rdr: J Noonan 54
More Reading...
2025 Japan Cup Winner - Aga Khan Gelding a World Beater
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who has taken giant strides in 2025 to become the Cartier European Horse of the Year and on Sunday he achieved the almost unthinkable with a history making win in the Group I Japan Cup (2400m).
Pierata Half-Brother To Slipper Winner Fireburn Breaks Maiden
While it may have taken until his fifth start to break his maiden, 3yo Pierata colt Kilbrannan has pedigree on his side and with the step up to 1300m, the Gary Portelli trained colt impressed at Newcastle on Sunday when breaking his maiden for Laurel Oak Bloodstock and partners.
Reliable Man Bargain Buy Wins Cromwell Cup
Peachy Keen capped a super-consistent spring campaign with a last-gasp victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m).
Kinnaird Brings Up Second Winner For Home Affairs
Sporting the famed silks of Te Akau Racing, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s Home Affairs colt Kinnaird started favourite at Otaki on Sunday, fighting all the way to the line to score on debut, becoming the second winner for his Coolmore based sire.
Sunshine Coast Win For Acrodance – First Winner For Acrobat
As the fastest ever 2yo over the Randwick 1000m when winning the Inglis Nursey at his only ever start, Fastnet Rock’s son Acrobat has proven extremely popular at stud, and on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast, the Paul Shailer trained Acrodance became his first winner.
Thoroughly Deserving Stakes Victory For Midnight In Tokyo
Having previously recorded eight black type placed efforts, the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Kobayashi mare Midnight In Tokyo started favourite in Saturday’s $160,000 Listed BRC Eureka Stud Tattersall's Classic (1200m), pulling clear in impressive fashion to record a thoroughly deserving first stakes victory.
Yulong Winner at Otaki
Yulong has wasted little time in making a mark on New Zealand racing this spring, and those emerald green and white colours were carried to another feature-race win by Azeezle in Sunday’s Levin Truck Services Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Savabeel Colt Wins G3 Wellington Stakes
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh won the Gr.3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes (1600m) for the fifth time at Otaki on Sunday with emerging talent Ammirati, but this was a win unlike any other.
Toronado Mare Springs a Surprise in Jungle Dawn Classic
Quality Toronado daughter Toropa upset her more fancied rivals and showed a blistering turn of foot to take the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic over 1400m, the second leg of The Pinnacles Mares Series at the Ascot carnival.
New SW for Too Darn Hot With Undefeated Hot And High
Ascot has played host to a remarkable crop of three year olds this season and another potential superstar was unveiled yesterday.