Nonconformist confirmed to Grahame Begg he was on target for the 2022 Caulfield Cup with a pleasing run against some of the nation’s best at weight-for-age on Saturday.

While Nonconformist finished second-last of the eight runners in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, he finished 2-½ lengths from Anamoe in the Cox Plate dress-rehearsal.

“We were delighted with his run,” Begg said.

“He (Jordan Childs) was positive out of the gates, and he put him into the race, and he held his position.

“He had a nice run, following Anamoe. They didn’t go that great a gallop, again, and when they let-down they left him flat-footed.

“But he held his gallop to the line, and he’s been beaten under three lengths.

“I think that was a good pipe-opener for next week.”

In the corresponding race last year, Nonconformist was nosed-out from victory by Probabeel before going on to finish second to Incentivise in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Begg sees no reason why Nonconformist cannot go one better this year.

“This year’s race was a better field,” Begg said.

“This time he’s taken on the best we’ve got. It was Cox Plate material and if you’re running within three lengths of them, I think you’re going pretty well.

“We’ve looked at his sectionals all the way through his campaign and he hasn’t shown us anything that he’s not going well, it’s the style of races he’s been racing in.

“The thing last year he was racing in handicaps and only had the one weight-for-age race whereas this year he’s been at weight-for-age all the way through.

“He hasn’t been suited in those sit and sprint types of races, but I go into next week very encouraged.”

Nonconformist has been high up in markets since nominations closed in August and weights were released the following month and has been supported from $13 into $11 with TAB following his performance at Caulfield on Saturday.