Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Randwick-based Sargent is bullish about the home track prospects on Saturday of Gin Martini in the G1 Moet & Chandon Champagne S., with the step up to 1600 metres seemingly tailor-made for the youngster.
This will be her grand final and she will then be spelled and return for a G1 VRC Oaks preparation while stablemate Four Moves Ahead is already in the paddock and expectations are also high for her later in the year.
Four Moves Ahead, a half-sister to barnmate and G3 Angst S. winner Emeralds (Sebring), won her first two starts before a couple of setbacks and still finished fourth in both the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S.
“She had a few things go wrong and got a cold and she knocked her knee. She was always half a step behind and she’s going to be a serious horse in the spring,” Sargent said.
“She’s gone out for six weeks and she’ll be a leading 3-year-old I’d say, without a doubt.”
Four Moves Ahead | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Top Baillieu effort
Gin Martini has enjoyed a smoother preparation and following a debut sixth was runner-up on the Kensington track and then drew serious attention to her Champagne prospects when a fast-finishing third in the G3 Baillieu S.
“She’s great and originally I was only going to give her one or two runs, but on her last effort she showed she’s going to be right up with them on Saturday,” Sargent said.
“She’s maturing all the time and still learning and if it’s truly run, and she gets a trouble-free run, they’ll know she’s there.
“She just stepped back when the gates opened at her last start and missed it by about 4l and finished off really well. The second horse (Maurice’s Medad) has since won at Randwick so it’s good form.
“This is her last race and she’ll go out and then we’ll aim her at Flemington in the spring.”
“This is her (Gin Martini) last race and she’ll go out and then we’ll aim her at Flemington in the spring.” – John Sargent
Gin Martini was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and is a daughter of winning Red Ransom (USA) mare Tanqueray and the family of the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Juice (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}).
“I bought her with James Moss of Tricolours Racing off Dave Duley of Lansdowne Park for NZ$40,000 as an Oaks filly,” Sargent said. “It would be nice to pick up a win or a placing for the breeding of the horse for Tricolours.”
Sargent is also happy to drop Elizabeel (Power {GB}) back to 1400 metres for the G3 Mostyn Cooper JHB Carr S. after an unplaced run over 2000 metres in the G1 Vinery Stud S.
Both of her victories have come over sprint distances and she showed her quality earlier this year when third in the G1 Surround S. and runner-up in the G3 Kembla Grange Classic.
Easier option
Sargent is also confident of a much-improved performance from Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) in the Yarraman Park H.
He believes the horse is working his way back to the form that won him the G2 Hobartville S. last season and Group 1 placings in the Randwick Guineas and Doncaster H.
Brandenburg (NZ)
Sargent nominated Brandenburg, who was unplaced when resuming in the G3 Star Kingdom S., for the G1 All Aged S., but opted for the softer option in the Yarraman Park H. with apprentice Louise Day to claim 2kg.
“I think he’ll be very close on Saturday in that field with a claim and any luck in the running. If he can get one off the fence somewhere I’m sure he’ll finish off very strongly,” he said.
“We gelded him and he’s just about back to where he was. He has done very well, I am very happy with him.
“He’ll go to the G2 Hollindale S. and two weeks after that he’ll run in the G1 Doomben Cup and Regan Bayliss is going to go up there to ride him.”
