Trainer John Sargent will look to unleash some handy staying types at Kembla on Tuesday.
Sargent, known on both sides of the Tasman for his expertise with staying colts and fillies, saddles-up the TAB Fixed Odds $26 shot Xtrarevz in Saturday’s Queensland Derby.
A week later, Sargent will be hoping the Australian Oaks runner-up So Dazzling can deliver him his second Queensland Oaks having won it first in 2012 with the Trelawney Stud-bred Quintessential.
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Before all that, Sargent’s immediate focus will be on two of his 2023/24 classic contenders – Ocean Diva and Glad You Think So – who are both scheduled to make their respective debuts at Kembla on Tuesday.
First to go is Ocean Diva who had a head-start in life having been born and raised at the famous Haunui Farm in New Zealand.
A daughter of five time Group 1 winner Ocean Park, Ocean Diva is well-equipped to win an Oaks given her in-breeding to the immortal Sir Tristram via his epic son, Zabeel and Grosvenor.
Ocean Diva already has one classic winner in her family namely Bulla Borghese who won the VRC Oaks for Ron Quinton in 2002.
‘’I bought her for an Oaks-type filly but she’s ready to go to the races,’’ Sargent says.
‘’She is a nice, big scopey filly and has got natural ability.
‘’I want to get a run into her while she is a two-year-old. I’ll probably give her a month out and then aim her up for the spring.’’
Trainer John Sargent. Picture: Mark Evans – Getty Images
Ocean Diva, a $90,000 Karaka Yearling purchase, will tick off her first start in the Mount Pleasant 2YO Maiden Handicap (1400m) with Alysha Collett to ride from barrier 7.
“I’ll just be instructing Alysha to ride her wherever she lands and hopefully she’ll hitting the line,’’ said Sargent.
‘’I think Kembla will suit her and I hope the speed is on and she will run a nice race.’’
As for Glad You Think So, as his name suggests, he is by the 10-times Group 1 winner and dual Cox Plate winner, So You Think.
Sargent has proven to have a happy knack and understanding with the So You Think offspring; the aforementioned So Dazzling a case in point.
She, like Glad You Think So and their champion father, all wear the famous ‘Think Big’ colours.
Known for throwing stunning horses visually, So You Think has certainly left his mark on Glad You Think So judging by his $400,000 purchase price at the Easter Yearling Sale in 2022.
The colt was knocked down to Duncan Ramage who bought So You Think as a yearling in New Zealand in 2008 for $110,000.
‘’Glad You Think So is a lovely big So You Think colt,’’ Sargent explained.
‘’He is one of those big, long (bodied) staying horses. He’s got a long stride and puts his head down.
‘’He is very similar to Ocean Diva in that he will have this run and as long as he is hitting the line, he will go out for a month and get ready for Flemington in November.
‘’He’s the type of horse that will need all of the 1400m on Tuesday and a good pace would help.
‘’He is fit and well and I would be very happy if he has a nice day out and is hitting the line strongly.’’
Sargent has a decision to make as to where he will start Miss Faberge who has a slot at the midweeks as well as at Kembla.