Trainer John Sargent has revealed Group 1 ambitions for Meridiana this autumn as his exciting prospect looks to make another first-up statement at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Sargent has high hopes of targeting the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Classic (1500m) with Meridiana set to take her first step towards the fillies and mares feature in the Group 3 $250,000 JRA Plate (1200m), known last year as the Southern Cross Stakes.
A small field in the JRA Plate encouraged Sargent to bring Meridiana back to the race sooner than initially anticipated with bigger goals in the back of his mind in the coming months.
“I definitely think there is a lot of improvement there for her,” Sargent said.
“But there are eight horses there in a Group race so if you run first four, you win a lot of money.
“That is why she is there, she gets well at the weight and she is not fully screwed down.
“I was going to trial her again and start her in a couple of weeks but I saw the small field and there’s no reason why not to run.”
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Meridiana has won both of her previous first-up attempts over 1400m and 1300m and has notably shown a devastating finishing burst.
Sargent is hoping she can show the same again with just 53kg on her back and Zac Lloyd aboard.
“She is going to get a soft run at the back with no weight,” he said.
“Whatever she does, she will improve because she has only had the one trial.
“She goes well fresh, winning each time, but she it’s a different story on Saturday with that class of field.”
Meridiana is being aimed at the Coolmore Classic. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images.
Sargent has options after Saturday with Meridiana with the Group 2 $250,000 Triscay Stakes (1200m) in two weeks’ time at Royal Randwick or the Group 2 $300,000 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens the following week.
She has been the subject of an early betting move for her return after being slashed from $11 into $5 in the early hours of TAB markets.
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Meridiana will take on a field of proven stakes performers with The Instructor ($4) and Enriched ($4.80) among the leading contenders.
Last year’s winner Willaidow ($10) will attempt to become just the second horse to win the race twice when the Marc and Mitch Conners-trained galloper connects with James McDonald.
Meanwhile, Sargent is hopeful of snaring consecutive wins with Harlow Mist ($4.80) when the daughter of Contributer contests the Spelling At Coolmore Mt White Hanidcap (2000m).
Harlow Mist scored her first win in more than a year with a dominant performance at Randwick Kensington a fortnight ago and links up with Tim Clark again.
