Trainer John Sargent anticipates a competitive debut from filly Perfect Darling at Randwick but says she will improve once she is stepped up in distance.
Sargent Hoping Luck Can Turn At Randwick
After a Magic Millions carnival he would rather forget, John Sargent is hoping for better luck at Randwick when juvenile filly Perfect Darling lines up for her first start.
Sargent had high hopes for Ballarat Clockwise Classic winner Readily Availabull in last weekend’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic but the horse was scratched when he failed to recover in time from a stone bruise.
The experienced trainer took the setback in his stride and is already looking to his next move with the talented youngster, who he hopes can qualify for the Golden Slipper.
“He’s good as gold now,” Sargent said.
“It’s just a shame it happened on that weekend but that’s racing, isn’t it.”
“He will probably trial in ten days then go to the races after that.”
Home-bred Perfect Darling is not quite as precocious as her stablemate but has shown ability and a competitive spirit in her two barrier trials.
She finished less than a half-length behind Readily Availabull in her latest hitout but being a daughter of middle-distance star So You Think, Sargent expects her to appreciate further than the 1000 metres of Saturday’s The Paul Hoffman Handicap.
“She is a lovely filly. She is a very robust So You Think, running-type of filly and she trialled well,” Sargent said.
“She has improved with that and she’s competitive. She is fit enough to go to the races and we’ll see how she goes.
“She might end up in blinkers being a So You Think. If she weighed in in the first five I’d be very happy and then just move her up in distance.”
The two-year-old race is expected to provide an insight into the Inglis Millennium in two weeks with several runners, including favourite Ashema, heading towards the $2 million sales-restricted event.
Saturday’s program also features the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) for which the Hawkes Racing-trained Bandersnatch is a $2.70 TAB fixed odds favourite.
Chat, one of two runners for John Thompson, has been backed into $3.30 after opening at $4.60 while Cradle Mountain is a $21 chance to land back-to-back Carrington Stakes wins.