John Sargent is a master when is comes to training staying three-year-olds and he believes he might have another classic contender on his books in Gloaming Stakes aspirant Glad You Think So.
By top stallion So You Think, Glad You Think So arrives at Saturday’s Group 3 race off the back of consecutive wins at Newcastle in what will be his most significant class test.
Sargent is quietly confident the colt will cope and if he does, both the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick and Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington will be on Glad You Think So’s agenda.
“That’s the path. As long as he runs well on Saturday we’ll go to the Spring Champion and then back-up in the Derby,” Sargent said.
“He is an out-and-out stayer who runs on speed. Hopefully he will get over (from barrier 14) and make his own luck.
“He has just progressed all the time and he is really hitting his straps now.
“He’s a mile-and-a-half horse, that’s where we’ll see the best of him, but if they run true and it’s a fast-run race on Saturday he’ll be fighting hard at the line.”
Glad You Think So will be joined in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) by Waverley, who has drawn directly outside his stablemate in barrier 15.
Group 3 placed in the Baillieu Handicap at two, Waverley hasn’t been beaten far in three recent runs, including when fourth to Gold Bullion at Flemington last start.
However, he remains a maiden after six starts, prompting Sargent to make a key gear change.
“Waverley will probably go back from the draw so he gets the trip,” he said.
“He hasn’t been giving his best being a colt, but I’ve put blinkers on so hopefully that will turn him around on Saturday.”
A competitive performance from Waverley will earn him another trip to Melbourne for the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, a race Sargent won last year with Perfect Thought.
