Having had to settle for seconds with Powers Of Opal in the Wakeful Stakes and VRC Oaks, trainer John Sargent is hoping French Ruler can go one better in another three-year-old feature.
The gelding is among acceptances for the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on Saturday with Sargent electing to bypass the Blue Sapphire Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on the same afternoon.
French Ruler has also been nominated for two races at the provincial Kembla Grange meeting, although Sargent admits the Newcastle option is tempting.
“He will either go to Newcastle or Kembla,” Sargent said.
“I just thought, it’s a gamble going down to Caulfield if you draw wide first time so we will stick here and weigh up the options between the two races.
“The Newcastle race isn’t an over-strong field so we will assess it and go from there.”
French Ruler beat all but subsequent dual Group placegetter Wanaruah on debut at Canterbury in June before returning with a first-up win in a Super Maiden (1200m) at Newcastle last month.
He had to ease around heels at the top of the straight before finishing hard for second to Mad Darcey in a Midway Handicap (1200m) last start and Sargent says he has improved physically since then.
“He is a very promising horse and he seems to be learning all the time,” Sargent said.
“Hopefully from now on he should be really hitting his straps. His coat has just come out now so he is finally coming into himself.”
Sargent’s reservation with the Spring Stakes option is a steep distance rise from 1200m to 1600m, but he has made adjustments to French Ruler’s training schedule to counteract it.
“That is one of the only things that is a little bit tricky,” he said.
“I worked him a bit further in his gallop on Tuesday to account for that, but that is a jump up.
“He has had trials and races, so he’s pretty fit and adaptable, hopefully that won’t be too much.”
French Ruler has drawn barrier seven in the field of 12, which is head by Group 3 winner Althoff and in-form Tulloch Lodge gelding The Three Hundred.
