John Sargent is looking forward to what lies ahead with promising maiden galloper Perfect Thought after an encouraging trial at Hawkesbury on Monday.
The two-year-old colt by So You Think has only raced once on ANZAC Day, when an eye-catching fourth behind Tijuana and beating home Saturday's Byerley Handicap winner, Skyphios.
Sargent opted to put Perfect Thought in the paddock following that run, rather than pushing onto Queensland for a race like the J.J. Atkins (1600m), with some big spring targets in mind.
After Monday's trial, Perfect Thought is likely to have one more hit-out in a fortnight before stepping out in a midweek maiden in Sydney in mid-August.
“He might have one more trial and then probably kick off at the ‘Kenso' (Kensington) meeting on the 10th (of August), and then he'll go to the Ming Dynasty after that,” Sargent told HorseBetting.
“Then on to the three-year-old type races.
“He's a beautiful horse. He's grown again, but he's just got a perfect temperament and he's just a lovely horse with a long low action.
“He trialled really well yesterday and he'll probably have another trial on the second – I might or might not – but he'll kick off in a maiden three-year-old at the Kensington on the 10th and then onto the Ming Dynasty.”
Perfect Thought trialled up brilliantly behind Sweet Ride and Cythera in a 785m trial, working through his gears late under Tom Sherry to finish third in what was one of the quickest trials of the morning.
What lies ahead post the Ming Dynasty is yet to be determined, but the three-year-old classics are at the forefront of the New Zealand trainer's mind.
With the Caulfield Guineas, Spring Champion Stakes and Victoria Derby all genuine targets, Sargent is hopeful that the horse can show the ability and potential that he thinks he has.
“You'll probably look to the Guineas races and those type of races for sure,” the trainer said.
“He's a lovely horse with a good temperament, and he's got that sort of X-factor about him.
“Hopefully he'll prove that he is that type of horse.”