Kiwi trainer John Sargent has changed tack with Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential, cancelling her Caulfield Cup program in favour of a return to New Zealand.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Sargent plans to lodge a late entry for Quintessential to start in the G1 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Spring Classic (2000m) at Hastings on Saturday week.
He decided not to pay up for the four-year-old mare as a second acceptor for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Tuesday despite her encouraging effort at Randwick last Saturday when she finished fifth in the G1 George Main Stakes (1600m) won by Shoot Out.
The George Main was only the second start for Quintessential since her successful winter campaign in Queensland when she won the Oaks at Eagle Farm and finished second to Brambles in the Queensland Derby.
She resumed in the Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on September 8 when she was one of the first runners out of the new satellite stable Sargent has established in Sydney at Warwick Farm.
She made good improvement off that effort to be beaten only 3.25 lengths in the George Main Stakes but Sargent feels she will be better placed returning to New Zealand for one the country's major wfa events rather than pursuing a Caulfield Cup start.
“It's a big step up to take on those carnival horses in Melbourne," said Sargent, who plans to spell the mare after the Spring Classic.
Sargent had Quintessential flown back to NZ on Tuesday as he feels the Spring Classic will be a "soft' race far below the quality she would meet in Melbourne.
"I've had a look at the likely field and we think it's worth coming back for,” Sargent said.
"She's coming back to familiar surroundings and the 10 days to the race should work out just nice."
Sargent has called on former Kiwi jockey Damian Browne to fly from Queensland to NZ for the Spring Classic ride. Browne, a former Kiwi, rode the mare in the Brisbane classics and made the trip to Sydney last Saturday for the George Main ride.
Sargent has G1 placegetter Magic Shaft entered for Saturday's $250,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
Magic Shaft had his first Australian start at Warwick Farm on September 8 when he finished ninth in the Ming Dynasty Quality over 1400m.
Sargent, winner of the NZ training premiership last season for the first time, has nine horses in work at Warwick Farm.
Quintessential was among several notable entries missing from the second acceptance list for the Caulfield Cup.
Gai Waterhouse trimmed her entry list by withdrawing Strawberry Boy, Tullamore, Western Symphony and Tohunga while others to drop out included Drunken Sailor, Happy Trails, Shewan, Yosei, Less Is More, Sea Galleon, Sysmo and Thy.
