Tim Yeatman@TimYeatman
23 November, 2022
Bastida winning the Road To The Jericho at Canberra (Image: Bradley Photos)
Renowned for his work with fillies, setting a gelding to tackle one of the country’s most-gruelling races is something out of the ordinary for Sydney-based trainer John Sargent.
But such is the significance of the Jericho Cup that Sargent says the decision to enter stayer Bastida in Sunday’s 4600-metre feature was a no-brainer.
“For those type of horses it’s great, it’s a very good concept, the race and what it means is very important, it’s got a lot of meaning to it, it’s not just another race,” Sargent said.
“The main owner of the horse in New Zealand is coming over, his father’s brother served in Gallipoli and rode in the light infantry when Bill The Bastard was there, so it’s a big thing for him.”
Bastida won his way into the race via a dominant six-length demolition of his rivals over 3400m in Canberra’s Road to the Jericho race two weeks ago and Sargent says his four-year-old is ready for the near three-mile trek around the ‘Bool.
“It’s going to be a bit different down there up and down and around corners, but he’s in great form, as we saw last start,” Sargent said.
“We saw the race as an option a while ago, start before last his saddle slipped here at Randwick, we know he stays, he runs on speed and stays all day and likes it wet or dry, so we said we’d try the Canberra race and after that it was well worth a go.
“He’ll keep bowling away, he’s a lovely horse, we know he stays and it’s a lovely race to have him entered for.”
A prominent trainer of jumpers back in New Zealand, Sargent says having a runner at the modern-day spiritual home of Australian jumps racing is a special moment.
“I’ve never had one at Warrnambool, I trained a lot of good jumpers in New Zealand, so I love my jumpers, if we had jumpers here (NSW) I’d be training them – I love them,” Sargent said.
“Mick Ormond bred the horse in New Zealand and he races a lot of horses, he’s been a breeder for years and this horse is actually well-bred, he said he’ll be flying over for it if we are running in it.
“I can’t head down, I’ve got my daughter’s wedding actually, so I can’t make it!”
Bastida will depart Sydney on Wednesday night alongside stablemate Gin Martini, who is entered for Saturday’s Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) at Caulfield.
“She’s gone down for that and Craig Williams rides, she should run well in that, it doesn’t look overly strong, she runs on speed and I think she’ll get the trip too, the two miles,” Sargent said.
