By Ray Hickson
A look at how well Group 1 winning filly Global Goal had done in the days after her Flight Stakes win was more than enough for John Sargent to give her the chance to snare a rare Group 1 double at Randwick on Saturday.
And if Global Goal can win the Group 1 $2 million Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) she’ll be only the second filly, after Montefilia in 2020, to claim both the Flight and Spring Champion.
She spent a few days in the paddock after the Flight and while Sargent said it was tempting to look interstate for her final run of the spring he found the ideal race was right in his backyard.
“She put on 15kg so I thought ‘back you come’ and she’s done very well. She’s only needed a couple of gallops to get her right for Saturday,’’ Sargent said.
“She’s got the form on the board against some nice fillies and gets a couple of kilos from the colts.
“With this on your doorstep for that money you’re mad not to stay here and go for it.”
Only three fillies have won the Spring Champion, and all in the past decade, starting with Yankee Rose in 2016 then Maid Of Heaven two years later and Montefilia.
Sargent is confident the 2000m will be right up Global Goal’s alley, especially considering the work she needed to do to win the Flight three weeks ago after settling well off the speed.
That race was Dylan Gibbons’ fourth Group 1 win and Sargent said his understanding of the filly will take her a long way to another win.
“It worked out perfectly, I was worried about the small field and lack of pace,’’ he said.
“But Dylan took off earlier and made it into a staying test and that’s what won the race. The step up to 2000m should be ideal.
“Dylan has been with her right through, gets on well with her, he knows she goes through a flat patch around the 600m and has to get her picking up but she’s strong through the line.
“She’s starting to relax a bit more in herself, she was always on the go a bit, and is more seasoned.
“The Pinatubos are doing a lot in England over a bit of ground and the dam’s side is the same, she’s quite relaxed in her races and has a good turn of foot at the end.”
Global Goal, $3 with TAB on Wednesday, drew barrier three in the Spring Champion and Sargent said that should be ideal given the tricky starting point.
“I’m quite happy with the draw, she doesn’t need to be too far back and can possie up a bit,’’ he said.
“We’ll be using the draw a bit, you have to hold your position on the first turn as they come across. Down the back they back off a bit so you have to watch where you are in the running and hope she can get out and get at them.”
Interestingly, Sargent said Global Goal and last week’s Reginald Allen winner Beyond The Reef came in at the same time but the latter wasn’t as mature mentally.
He said the pair will likely have similar paths in the autumn and wouldn’t be surprised if Beyond The Reef takes some giant steps.
Meanwhile, Sargent has the fingers crossed that Asgarda can sneak into the field for the Group 2 $2 million The Invitation (1400m) and says if she does she could be a surprise packet.
She finished sixth when resuming in The Nivison two weeks ago, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, but is first emergency for the mares race.
“She’ll give them a shake because she will run on speed or lead,’’ he said.
“She was a bit stiff the other day, held up at a vital time to get through. If she gets in she will give a good account of herself.”
