With his final crop of thirteen foals just turned two, there is still time for Choisir to build on an already formidable record, and Grahame Begg has a 4yo gelding he believes has Group 1 potential.
There was no hiding Begg's excitement when Cardinal Gem came with a barnstorming finish from the tale of the field in the Rose Room Trophy (1420m) at Flemington on Sunday.
Ridden by apprentice Logan McNeil Cardinal Gem was caught wide the trip, had a bumping duel with Agnelli and was still last at the 300m. When balanced, he motored to the line to defeat Kiss Me If You Can (O'Lonhro) by two and a half lengths with a nose back to Heavenly Emperor (Echoes Of Heaven) in third.
Since returning from a spell in April, Cardinal Gem has posted wins at Flemington and Caulfield, has twice been second at Flemington, with thirds at Flemington and Caulfield, and a fourth at Flemington in a race he was unlucky not to win.
The son of Choisir has no bigger fan than his trainer.
"He had to do it the tough way, but he is a serious little horse," Begg said.
"He hasn't had a lot of luck in his races, and his record should read a lot better.
"He has a good record at Flemington and will win a good race for us one day.
"We think that next year he will be a Stradbroke horse. I reckon 1400m to 1500m is at the top of his distance range, but we know he loves a solidly run race. He loves good ground where he can accelerate, even though he did on the heavy 10 today."
With nearly $200,000 in the bank from 13 starts, Cardinal Gem is proving a sound investment as a $60,000 purchase for Grahame Begg Racing / Rohan Hughes from the Gippsland Bloodstock draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale Showcase.
Gippsland Bloodstock had pinhooked the son of Choisir for $32,000 from Aquis Farm at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Cardinal Gem is the first foal of the Turffontein mare Eloquent Ruby, a sister to Group II VRC Edward Manifold stakes winner Fontein Ruby and a half to Group III winner The Mitigator and stakes-placed Palumbo.
Fontein Ruby is the dam of Group II MRC Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Parure (Fastnet Rock) and a $500,000 Justify filly named Fontaine Rouge, who is in training with Maher and Eustice.
Not to be outdone, Eloquent Ruby's colt from the first crop of Lean Mean Machine was a $230,000 purchase for L Smith / Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
