Caulfield Cup placegetter Nonconformist races into $5m All-Star Mile with emphatic Blamey win
The 2021 Caulfield Cup runner-up Nonconformist picked the perfect time to regain his best form in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Not only did the Grahame Begg-trained galloper post his first win since the 2021 Naturalism Stakes, Nonconformist earned himself a wildcard into the $5m All-Star Mile with his success.
It remains to be seen whether connections will decide to tackle the All-Star Mile with Nonconformist, who dented the hopes of contenders Tuvalu (9th) and Gentleman Roy (4th) with his impressive Blamey Stakes win.
Nonconformist capped a super day for the Begg stable after the classy mare Passive Aggressive’s tough effort earned her a first-up win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Randwick.
The Blamey Stakes was the first Group 2 win for jockey Harry Coffey, who stepped in for regular rider Jordan Childs aboard Nonconformist.
Childs headed to Sydney to ride Passive Aggressive, creating the chance for Coffey to address an irritation.
“That has been annoying me a little bit and it is great to get a win in a race like that,” Coffey said.
“Awesome to get on a horse like him and awesome to ride him very well. I must admit we got a lovely run throughout.”
Nonconformist started at $19 in his first run since last year’s Caulfield Cup, in which the gelding finished less than three lengths from the winner Durston.
Coffey said Begg only wanted to see Nonconformist finish strongly but he was thrilled the six-year-old exceeded expectations.
“We just wanted him to relax and finish off and run through the line,” Coffey said.
“Grahame said to me if I can get him to do that then he’d be happy and he said ‘I’m not saying he can’t win but if he can win it’d be even better’.
“I think he exceeded everyone’s expectations including Grahame’s so it is great that everyone can see the old horse back.”
TAB promoted Nonconformist to $15 in Australian Cup betting after his win while he’s not yet listed in markets for the All-Star Mile as connections await the official wildcard invite into the race.
