John Sargent acknowledges blue blood Top Score is a good colt which will become an even better one if he is given the proper amount of time.
Making his racing debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, the close relation to outstanding racehorse and now champion sire, Fastnet Rock, Top Score ($3.20) was expected to give the favourite Gigolo ($2.40) a run for his money in the McGrath Estate Agents Plate.
Top Score did more than that, picking himself up after Gigolo established what seemed a winning break at the 200m.
It was this commitment to the cause that jockey Tye Angand said would carry Top Score a long way but Sargent said he was in no hurry to get there.
“He’s a work in progress,” Sargent said.
“As you could see he hung off on the turn but he hit the line strongly and he’ll learn a lot from that.”
“It looked like he was going to get beaten but good horses go to the line.”
Angland said Top Score would be better suited over more ground than an 1100m scamper.
“He’s looking for further and a bit of time,” he said.
Sargent is prepared to allow Top Score plenty of both and envisages giving the three-year-old one more start before sending him for a break.
“Being by High Chaparral, the longer we can give him the better. We won’t be rushing him,” Sargent said.
The Hawkes Racing stable had a double with Zara Bay and Binary winning for jockey Tommy Berry.
Of the two winners, trainer Michael Hawkes said Zara Bay was the one most likely to be given her chance in Melbourne after blinkers made all the difference in the TAB.com.au Maiden Plate.
Zara Bay ran faster time for the distance than Top Score and she will be set for a three-year-old fillies race during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Last Wish also earned himself a Melbourne Cup day appearance at Flemington with a hard-fought win in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap.
While he’s a long way off Melbourne Cup standard, the Tony McEvoy-trained stayer will be given his chance in a 2800m support race after foiling a $12 to $7 move for Shalmaneser.
Joining in at the 200m, Last Wish ($6,50) was reluctant to go straight before gaining the upper hand over Shalmaneser to win by a long head.
