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Written By signs off from racing By Ben Triandafillou CHAMPION two-year-old colt and Group One winner, Written By, has been retired to Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley on Monday 15 April. Trained by Mornington-based racehorse trainer Grahame Begg and raced by Hall of Fame trainer, and Grahame’s father, Neville Begg, the speedy son of Written Tycoon has been key to Grahame’s successful return to the training ranks. The former Sydney-based trainer of 25 years spent more than three years out of the game before returning and landing his first Group One victory back with Written By in the 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). “He was the catalyst for us to kick off again,” Begg said. The homebred colt kicked off his career in perfect fashion winning his first four starts in succession highlighted by his dominant two and a half-length victory of the Blue Diamond Stakes. Sent to Sydney for the Golden Slipper, Written By was an easy winner of the Group Two ATC Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) and was then the first colt home in the Golden Slipper behind Estijaab, Oohood and Sunlight. The homebred colt went on to run some great races in his three-year-old season including a fourth placing in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes where he finished one and a half lengths off the victor, Sunlight. Having trained Written By’s sire, Written Tycoon, and raced his mother Yau Chin, Begg said there was always something a little bit special about
Champion 2YO: Written By has a pick of grass under the eye of his trainer, Grahame Begg. Picture: Supplied
racing the colt. “There was a lot of synergy there,” he said. “He was pretty straight forward as far as soundness goes, he was just a full on two-year-old – he just got up and ran.”
“I would have liked his three-yearold runs to be a little bit better but in saying that he was beaten just under two-lengths in the Coolmore. Then in the Lightning Stakes he only got beaten about two lengths in that, so he really has been a very, very good
horse.” But for his career on the racetrack, Begg said it felt like the right time to retire his star colt. “If we waited another 12 months, he’d be four rising five and for us it was a good time for him to head to
stud,” he said. “He arrived safe and sound. He’s looking outstanding and looked brilliant when he left.” Written By will now stand his first season at Widden Stud at a fee of $24,750 including GST.
Monash embarks on two-year sponsorship deal with Mount Martha Junior Football Club MONASH University has announced a sponsorship deal with Mount Martha Junior Football Club. The two year sponsorship deal reinforces Monash’s commitment to supporting and building relationships in the community. The club’s main oval will be renamed the ‘Monash University Oval’, while the university’s logo will be emblazoned on all match day footballs, hundreds of training balls and signage on the two home ground ovals. “The community sponsorship with Mount Martha Junior Football Club enables us to become more involved with the local community in the Peninsula region,” Professor David Copolov AO, Monash University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement said. “We are building strong relationships at a grass roots level, encouraging the development of our students’ skills by allowing them the opportunity to engage personally with members of the club, as well as helping to promote higher education aspirations and active lifestyles among young people and their families”. The sponsorship deal will create opportunities for Monash University students to practise their skills such as first aid and defibrillator demonstrations and training during selected home game days. MMJFC and Monash University will also develop a linked online presence, ANZAC Day Guernsey naming rights and clubroom signage. Mr James Barrett, President of Mount Martha Junior Football Club (MMJFC) welcomes the deal and is
excited to be working with Monash. “Monash University has a great reputation and I’m so pleased to be able to help drive awareness of the university throughout our club,” Mr Barrett said. “We have over 400 players with 21 teams male, female and mixed
and are growing every year.” “The sponsorship also means the Monash students can come along on a game day or training and help educate our players’ families on first aid and physical preparation.” “Junior football is a very active sport and good first aid skills are
very useful to have.” The MMJFC sponsorship deal also complements Monash’s other community development sponsorship with South Metro Junior Football Club in Melbourne that is now in the first year of a renewed two-year partnership.
Sponsorship win: Front row L -R: Samson (U9 Boys), Micky (U10 Boys), Chloe (U13 Girls), Charlotte (U11 Girls). Back row L-R: Emily (U13 Girls), Coen (U16 Boys), James Barrett (Mt Martha Junior Football Club President), Professor David Copolov (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement, Monash University), Noah (U16 Boys), Ben (U15 Boys). Picture: Supplied Mornington News
23 April 2019
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