As John Sargent sweats on a Queensland Derby start for first reserve Home Made, stablemate Think It Over is being readied to end his campaign on a winning note at Randwick after failing to make the cut for the Group One feature.
Think It Over did not have enough prize money to force his way into the Derby field and while Sargent is disappointed, he says the three-year-old looks well placed in the Bradley Photographers Handicap (1800m) in Sydney on Saturday.
“It’s a shame he didn’t make the Derby field but this is a good option and it’s a good way to finish off his campaign,” Sargent said.
“He’s back 200 metres in distance but it’s still a staying test so I’m not worried about that.”
Think It Over brings solid form lines into Saturday’s race, finishing resolutely from back in the field for third to Queensland Derby favourite Nobu over 2000 metres at Randwick on May 25.
Before that he was runner-up to Occupy at Scone on a soft track and he should get similar conditions at Randwick, which Sargent expects the gelding to relish.
“Being a So You Think he doesn’t mind that, so that will make him more of a chance,” he said.
Sargent is currently in Brisbane where he’s desperately hoping first emergency Home Made can get a last-minute call-up into the Queensland Derby field.
The High Chaparral gelding was having his first start in a month when third to Fun Fact in the Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm and Sargent said he had taken enormous improvement from that run.
“He missed his first start up here. He got travel sickness when he came up a month ago,” Sargent said.
“I knew he’d be short of a run in the Grand Prix and he just came to the end of it, but he’s improved immensely since then.
“He’ll be bang-on if he gets in on Saturday.”
Sargent confirmed bonny mare Luvaluva had been sent to the paddock after her fourth to The Candy Man in the Group Three Premier’s Cup on May 25 and would be prepared for a spring campaign geared towards the Matriarch Stakes in Melbourne.