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By Ray Hickson

She claimed the scalps of an Everest winner and a bulldog front-runner in her last Sydney campaign and Grahame Begg’s mare Passive Aggressive has more big names in her sights when she returns to Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Grahame Begg. (Pic: Steve Hart)

Giant killer status went to the mare when she beat Eduardo and Giga Kick in last year’s Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Club Challenge Stakes (1000m) and Begg’s setting his sights on Private Eye who stands in the way of back-to-back wins.

Things are a little different this time around as the five-year-old is returning from retirement having failed to get in foal during the spring and Begg respects it’s not an easy task.

But he said Passive Aggressive is showing all the signs she’s as good as ever.

“She hopped straight back into it, she had a good period of pre-training before she came into the stable but to be truthful we were pleasantly surprised she didn’t really let down and get too heavy,’’ Begg said.

“So she's had a nice build up from early December to be prepared for Saturday’s race.

“She’s given every indication she’s in good form and back to where she was last year.”

Begg said it’s “all guns blazing” for the Challenge but does rate this year’s edition at least as tough as a year ago.

She’s trialled officially back on February 5 and has also had another jump out to prepare for a first-up run and Begg likes how it could pan out for her from gate five of seven.

“It’s a strong race, this year is probably a stronger race so she’ll probably need to go to another level,’’ he said.

“But we’re happy with where she is at this point in time, she’s ticked all the boxes.

“I prefer to draw out a little bit, obviously it’s a straight run to the first turn and you don’t have to rush them. Eduardo led her last year but she got there well within herself so I think it’s perfect.”

Passive Aggressive, $8.50 with TAB on Thursday, will likely head back to the breeding barn later this year but in the meantime the Group 1 $1m Kia Ora Galaxy (1100m) will probably be her next step on her way to next month’s Group 1 $3m TJ Smith Stakes.

C’est Magique chases an elusive second career win in the Group 3 $250,000 Toyota Forklifts Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) and Begg is upbeat about her chances of a breakthrough.

Begg said she wasn’t quite the same in her second racing preparation given a 10 month break since she was Group 1 placed at her fourth start.

The mare has had the one run back for a solid third behind Samana and Olentia in the Triscay Stakes (1200m) three weeks ago and the trainer regards the race as ideal.

C'est Magique runs third at Randwick on February 17

“We were playing catch up a little bit, her form was a little indifferent in the spring but we feel she is going very well,’’ he said.

“She gets her opportunity. She’s taken benefit from her first-up run, she’s a gross mare who does well in the stable.

“She had a nice little blow after her run first-up, she gets a gate to give herself a good run in that race so she gets every opportunity.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting