The Gerry Harvey-owned and bred Pink Ivory, who will contest this Saturday’s edition of the Randwick feature, profiles similar to Gust Of Wind, having got a long way back in her final lead-up run before hitting the line with intent over the concluding stages.
While Gust Of Wind came through a fourth placing in the G3 Adrian Knox S. prior to winning the Oaks five days later, Pink Ivory will present off the back of an eye-catching run in the G1 Vinery Stud S., which like the 2015 Adrian Knox, which was run on a Monday due to inclement weather albeit over 1850 metres at Newcastle, instead of its traditional 2000-metre Rosehill slot.
Gallery: John Sargent-trained fillies
“They’re (Pink Ivory and Gust Of Wind) not unlike each other, very similar kind of horses and both come through the provincials and the map is similar for Pink Ivory on Saturday,” Sargent told TDN AusNZ.
“I expect her (Pink Ivory) to run well, she’s peaking at the right time and handles the wet, while the step up to 2400 metres is the big question mark with every horse she’s got the breeding to stay.”
Sargent believes Pink Ivory can turn the tables on Vinery Stud S. winner Hinged (Worthy Cause) and boom filly Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), who went past his galloper to finish third in her first start outside of Queensland.
He cited the booking of James McDonald as a key factor despite taking nothing away from Rory Hutchings' previous three rides aboard Pink Ivory.
“It will have a lot to do with which horse gets the best luck in running but we’ve got one of the best riders going around aboard,” Sargent said.
John Sargent | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Sargent would be delighted to saddle up a Group 1 winner for Gerry Harvey, saying the leading owner and breeder's support over the years hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“It would be very special, as he’s always given me a couple of horses to train throughout my whole career and I’ve had some nice horses for him,” Sargent said.
“It would be great to get him a result back as he puts so much into the game and I would dearly love to win the Oaks for him.”
Bigger and better things await Pink Ivory in the spring regardless of the result on Saturday, according to Sargent.
“We haven’t overtaxed her and she’s a big scopey filly so there’s no reason she shouldn’t carry on with it at 4 and 5-years old,” Sargent said.
“We haven’t overtaxed her (Pink Ivory) and she’s a big scopey filly so there’s no reason she shouldn’t carry on with it at 4 and 5-years old." - John Sargent
“We will get through Saturday and then hopefully she’ll be good enough to go down to Melbourne in the spring.”
Pink Ivory is out of the dual Group 1-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Lotteria, who claimed the G1 Flight S. and G1 Myer Classic for Gai Waterhouse along with a second placing behind Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) in the 2004 G1 Cox Plate.
Lotteria is yet to produce a stakes winner but is responsible for the dam of G3 Manawatu Cup winner Marroni (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
Can Martini measure up?
The Randwick-based trainer will also saddle up Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) in the Australian Oaks despite the Tricolour Racing and Syndications-owned galloper finishing a distant ninth in the Vinery Stud S.
Gin Martini (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Sargent said there are no concerns about Gin Martini’s ability to see out the 2400-metre trip, saying her pedigree holds her in good stead.
“She missed the start in the Vinery, so she was on the back foot and on the inside in the worse going so there’s definitely more improvement there,” Sargent said.
“She’s got a better draw (barrier six), so we will ride her more forward and the positive is she’s already won on the Heavy and is fit and well.”
A NZ$40,000 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1 purchase by Tricolours Racing and Syndications from the draft of Landsdowne Park, Gin Martini is out of Red Ransom (USA) mare Tanqueray (NZ), making her a half-sister to the stakes-placed Nothin’ On Me (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt).
Tanqueray’s dam Gordon’s (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) was victorious in the G2 Hawke's Bay Cup.
Moving Ahead
Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel) will be ‘hard to beat’ in the G3 Sapphire S. after a ‘pleasing’ trial at Randwick over 1045 metres on Monday.
Four Moves Ahead (white cap) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The dual Group 2-winning filly, who has been set a task from wide barriers in her last two starts, maps to get a more favourable run on Saturday after drawing barrier nine and should sit just outside of the speed with cover if the race goes according to Sargent’s script.
He said last-start G1 TJ Smith S. fourth placegetter Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) are Four Moves Ahead's main dangers.
“I think she should be hard to beat because we’ve freshened her up and aimed her at this race, so I think it’s a nice race for her at set weights,” Sargent said.
“I think she (Four Moves Ahead) should be hard to beat because we’ve freshened her up and aimed her at this race, so I think it’s a nice race for her at set weights." - John Sargent
“Her trial on Monday was nice, she’s fit and clean winded so the gap between runs shouldn’t worry her.”
Passed in for $280,000 after failing to meet a reserve of $300,000 set by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Four Moves Ahead is the second foal out of the unraced Doulmera (USA) (Mr Greeley {USA}), making her a half-sister to the Group 3-winning Emeralds (Sebring).
So You Think colt comes home
A ‘lovely’ colt by Coolmore stallion So You Think (NZ) will join Sargent’s stables after he secured Lot 192 for $400,000 from the draft of Burke Bloodstock in partnership with Duncan Ramage at the recently completed Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Lot 192 - So You Think (NZ) x Gladwell (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He’s just a classy Derby and Cup type of horse, the breeders stayed in they liked him so much and while we had to pay a lot of money for him that’s what you have to do these days,” Sargent said.
“He’s a classy type of So You Think, I’ve trained quite a few and he’s as good as a So You Think I’ve ever seen at the sales and I’m really wrapped to get him, although he will take time and we won’t see the best of him until he’s a 3-year-old.”
“He’s (Lot 192) a classy type of So You Think, I’ve trained quite a few and he’s as good as a So You Think I’ve ever seen at the sales and I’m really wrapped to get him, although he will take time and we won’t see the best of him until he’s a 3-year-old.” - John Sargent
Sargent believes the current strength of the yearling market is a positive sign for the broader industry despite acknowledging the challenges for smaller operations to secure top-end stock.
He expects the market to maintain its current level, saying it would be surprising if it was to continue on an upward trajectory.
“You have to have a big backer to get in there and go but it’s a good sign for the industry because the stakes are going up and they’re paying more for the horses which is indicative of what’s happening in Australia, the industry is only going one way and that’s up,” Sargent said.
“But you wouldn’t think the market can keep going up, the average at (Inglis) Easter was up over $400,000 and the average person just can’t pay that for a horse but there’s so many sales around and you don’t have to buy expensive horses for them to be good race horses.”
