Day 1 of The Championships provided some exciting action on the track as Royal Randwick lit up with the best of the best in front of a crowd wearing the traditional black and white for Derby Day.
Day 2 is this coming Saturday and racing fans will be treated to some more top action on the track with a number of Group 1s throwing up some really competitive fields – especially in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. However, the stables eyes will be focussed on the Australian Oaks. John is well known for being able to train a quality staying filly and 2015 will be a year that remains in the history books as the day he beat the mighty Winx with the unfancied Gust Of Wind going past the post and kick starting the winning streak of the mighty mare from the Waller Stable.
On Saturday, John will saddle up the two runners looking to add another Oaks trophy to the cabinet.
GIN MARTINI
The flashy but very talented Rip Van Winkle filly burst onto the scenes as a two year old when showing a fast finish at Randwick in March of last year when flashing home to finish 2nd by the barest of margins to Coastwatch. She has since gone to stamp herself as one to watch when she finally broke the maiden status at Canberra in January of this year, also then winning at her next start at Newcastle in February over the 1890m. Group 1 winning jockey Robbie Dolan will be aboard on Saturday as the pair bounce out of gate 6.
Her work has been good and she is fit and well ahead of Saturday’s assignment.
PINK IVORY
The Gerry Harvey-bred and owned Redwood filly Pink Ivory has been a strong mover in Oaks market with Sportsbet on the back of an eye-catching finish for fifth in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) last Monday at Newcastle.
Sargent said he was looking forward to getting Pink Ivory out to the 2400 metres of Saturday’s Oaks.
“She’s come through that run well and I think out to that maximum distance should really suit her,” he said
James Mcdonald has the ride and we hope she can get the Group 1 feature for Gerry Harvey.
