She’s A Hustler delivered a compelling first-up performance over 2400 metres at Caulfield, strengthening her case for a Caulfield Cup bid next spring.

The Grahame Begg-trained mare notched her maiden Group 2 victory in the $750,000 weight-for-age Zipping Classic, reeling in dual Group 1 winner Light Infantry Man.

Maintaining her flawless quinella strike-rate — seven wins and four seconds from 11 starts — She’s A Hustler now shapes as a genuine Caulfield Cup contender.
“You have to have those ambitions,” Begg said.
“She’s a beauty, a winning machine… We may go to Brisbane for one or two runs up there, something like the Q22 and then back down here.”

Saturday’s victory followed runner-up efforts in the Matriarch Stakes and a Group 3 win in the Tesio Stakes on Cox Plate Day.

She overcame interference on the turn before mowing down Light Infantry Man to score by a short neck, with Etna Rosso third.

Regular rider Jordan Childs said the win was another step forward.
“The way she’s going about it, she’s still got improvement there,” he said.
“To tick that off over 2400 metres today, it will hold her in good stead for next prep.”

The Zipping Classic completed a Stakes double for Begg and Childs, who earlier combined to win the Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) with Ruska Roma.