By Ray Hickson
Trainer John Sargent says his decision to miss the second leg of the Princess Series with Global Goal will give her the best chance possible to consolidate her place as a Group 1 contender at Randwick on Saturday.
Global Goal is the current $6 equal favourite for the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in two weeks.
The three-year-old produced the fastest last 600m of the Silver Shadow Stakes when she resumed a month ago and instead of contesting the Furious, she won a trial and will wear winkers in the Group 2 $300,000 Grant Burge Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
“I’ve added winkers this time because she goes through a flat patch,’’ he said.
“When you get into Group level you can’t wait too long to let them learn it themselves, it seemed to work at the trials.
“She’s not a robust filly and I thought the two-week gaps with another two weeks into the Flight Stakes was a bit much. If she comes through it well, she can go to the Flight.
“From the draw we have a couple of options, we’ll see how the race pans out but she’ll slot in somewhere behind the first wave.”
Sargent won the Tea Rose in 2021 with Four Moves Ahead, carrying the same colours, who lined up in all four legs of the Princess Series and ran six in the Flight Stakes.
Global Goal, $7 with TAB on Wednesday, is a granddaughter of Shoals who started favourite in the 2018 TAB Everest.
She made her debut in an Inglis Challenge race at Wagga back in May, but Sargent always felt she belonged in stakes company as a three-year-old.
That was proven in the Silver Shadow where she ran 33.83 for her last 600m (Punter’s Intelligence), scooting along the rail into third place behind Pembrey with runner-up Bangkok Hottie (since winner of the Furious) sailing down the middle.
“They both came from the back that day, we were maybe in the inferior part of the track but it’s good form,’’ Sargent said.
“She showed plenty in trackwork and I thought (Wagga) was a good trip away and with the bonus it was like a Saturday race. The break did her well, she’ll mature and she’ll be even better in the autumn.
“Looking at her, you’d think she’s more of a 1400m to a mile horse, but you don’t know with three-year-olds. She’s not a staying type of horse I’d think but we will play it by ear.”
Sargent is looking for evergreen galloper Palmetto to show he’s on target for Big Dance Day when he resumes in the Group 3 $250,000 Hope Research Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m).
His second placing in the Hawkesbury Cup means he is Big Dance eligible but at this stage is more likely to be taking his place in the $750,000 Little Dance given eligible race winners are at the top of the ballot.
He’ll be running in the Big Dance Wild Card on Everest Day which offers exemption for the first and second placegetters.
“He’s come up really well, I know he’s getting older but he’s stronger,’’ Sargent said.
“He will need the run a bit, but he will come on.”
Comeback galloper Hooligan Tommy ran fourth in the Big Dance last year and Sargent is expecting him to need his second-up run from a lengthy break in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1600m).
