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Australian Derby prospect heads to Kembla (Tues)

3 minute read

John Sargent can't wait to get Coto De Caza and Our Kiwi Girl over a trip and suspects both will make their presence felt late in Tuesday's Him Kembla Grange Classic Day March 15 Midway Maiden Handicap (1500m) at Kembla Grange.

Trainer : JOHN G SARGENT.
Trainer : JOHN G SARGENT. Picture: Racing and Sports

The Randwick trainer had three runners among the acceptors for the opening event on the card but will run stablemate Llewellyn at Warwick Farm on Wednesday instead.

It leaves Coto De Caza ($2.90 TAB favourite) as his top contender with the lightly-raced gelding set to make his return from a break with Tom Sherry in the saddle.

Coto De Caza went for a spell after finishing second in a 2000m event at Canberra in October and John Sargent is keen to get the son of Contributer out in trip again this preparation.

"He is bred to stay," he said. "He has had a couple of trials and is ready to go. I would expect a good run.

"We will just get him through the grades and see where we are but we will front up first and go from there.

"You would like to see him hitting the line."

Coto De Caza has a nomination for the Group 1 Australian Derby but Sargent is content to bring the gelding through his grades.

Stablemate Our Kiwi Girl ($41) is yet to place in three career starts and heads to Illawarra Turf Club off a last start sixth over 1300m at Hawkesbury.

Star apprentice Zac Lloyd has been tasked with getting the best out of the daughter of Derby winner Ace High.

"She just needs a trip too," Sargent said. "I have stepped her up in her work and she has been a lot better over more ground.

"I don't think she would be the roughest chance so she gets up over this and a mile and further.

"She is bred to go and I would like to see her hitting the line as well because her first few runs haven't been that good but gets to a distance now that might suit."

Llewellyn, which also holds a nomination for the Derby, will line up in the James Squire Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm instead as Sargent attempts to bank more valuable prizemoney heading into the autumn features.

"There is double the stakes in town and we want to get him in the three-year-old staying races so he will go to the Super Maiden on Wednesday," Sargent said.

"He was a bit fat first-up and got a bit lost when he hit the front so I have changed his gear to visors now so he can see a bit more."


Racing and Sports

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