Australian trainers are used to losing horses to Hong Kong and John Sargent is more than happy to be the recipient of a reverse trend.
Smart Volatility has his first start for the Randwick-based Sargent in Saturday’s Winter Dash (1200m) on his new home track and goes in as the highest-rated of the 16 entries.
The seven-year-old was also entered for the Group Three Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm but his owner made the decision to start him at the lower level.
“He was a Group One placegetter in Hong Kong so he’s obviously going to get 61 kilos and we will claim three with Andrew Adkins,” Sargent said.
“He is a lovely horse and has had two trials and won them both.
“I think he is fit enough and although I don’t think he wants it too heavy, he has won his trials on wet tracks so he will handle at least slow which looks like what we are likely to get.
“He got injured in Hong Kong so he came here to recover.
“He was very highly rated in Hong Kong and I’m pleased to have him.”
Smart Volatility’s Group One third came in January last year in the Centenary Cup (1000m) won by Peniaphobia.
Elusive Runner has also returned from Hong Kong to race for Sargent who trained him to a midfield finish in the 2014 Queensland Derby.
The five-year-old was injured before he raced in Hong Kong and will have his first start for two years when he runs in the 1400m-benchmark 78 at the Randwick meeting.
“He got a tendon strain in Hong Kong and I’m happy to have him back,” Sargent said.
“He’s racing over 1400 metres to start him off.”
Sargent entered last-start Kembla Grange winner Swift Lady for the Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm but she will be saved for a race at Rosehill a week later.
“She was going as a companion to Smart Volatility but now that he’s not going, I won’t send her up on her own,” Sargent said.
“There are a couple of options here for her the following week.”
