John Sargent banks on Craig Williams being Perfect fit
Williams was aboard for the four-year-old’s most significant win in the 2022 Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington and Sargent was keen to get his feedback before locking in any plans.
“I just phoned (Williams) the other day and asked if he would come up for Perfect Thought and he said he had a quiet Saturday, so it was a good chance to come up and ride him again,” Sargent said.
“He knows how good Perfect Thought is and will give us a good guide on him.”
A son of outstanding stallion So You Think, Perfect Thought has shown glimpses of above-average talent.
As well as winning last year’s Group 3 Melbourne Cup week feature, he was runner-up to Kovalica in the Queensland Guineas, that horse subsequently taking out the Queensland Derby and finishing an unlucky second in the Epsom Handicap.
Sargent likewise had lofty ambitions for Perfect Thought, but the entire’s spring campaign was cut short after just two runs.
“He won that race (Carbine Club Stakes) and when he was second in the Queensland Guineas in the winter, I thought he would go right on with it,” Sargent said.
“Then he got crook last time in and we had to stop, but he looks to have come back the horse we thought we had, in his trial and first-up run.
“Hopefully, he can show he is up to the best now.”
Perfect Thought is not a noted fresh horse, so Sargent was more than satisfied with his return in the Razor Sharp Stakes (1200m) where he finished two lengths from winner Recommendation .
He has a much better second-up record, including his Guineas placing, but will have to overcome barrier 12 in Saturday’s Schweppes Handicap (1400m).
Williams has picked up seven other rides at Randwick, including Perfect Thought’s stablemate Ningaloo Star in the Midway Handicap (1200m) and Godolphin two-year-old Pisces, who heads to town after scoring a narrow win on debut at Kembla Grange.
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