China Sea continues on G1 Australian Derby path
China Sea, a Victoria Derby placegetter, is preparing to move closer to his autumn carnival goals in Sydney with a run in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas.
The 1600m Randwick Guineas for three-year-olds on Saturday will be China Sea’s second race of the campaign, after a less-than-ideal return in the 1400m Hobartville Stakes, where Broadsiding, the early favourite for the Randwick Guineas, took first place.
Trainer John Sargent is optimistic about how China Sea is progressing this autumn, especially as he gears up for races over 2000m and 2400m.
“He just needed it (in the Hobartville), so he’ll improve with that and go from there to the Tulloch Stakes and then to the Derby,” Sargent commented.
“I think he’s a stronger horse and bigger than he was down at Flemington (in the spring), so I think you’ll see a serious three-year-old when he gets out past a mile,” he continued.
Having begun his career with a 1400m maiden win at Kembla as a late-season two-year-old, China Sea began to find his best form last spring when racing over longer distances.
He finished second in the Caulfield Classic over 2000m and later placed third in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
Sargent explained that China Sea was outpaced in the 1400m race but expects him to show more in the Randwick Guineas, with a focus on getting him in top shape for the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) in the coming weeks.
“They sprinted and he couldn’t really go with them,” Sargent said about China Sea’s performance in the Hobartville.
“As long as he’s hitting the line I’ll be happy and then when we get to the Tulloch and the Derby he should be at his peak,” he added.
“He’s a big, gross horse but I’m really happy with him,” Sargent concluded.
For China Sea’s stablemate, French Ruler, Sargent is considering the Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m), which is scheduled for the day after the Randwick Guineas.
Broadsiding, a three-time Group 1 winner, is the $1.60 favourite for the Randwick Guineas, while China Sea is currently priced at $51.
More Racing News
Green Spaces earns Rachel King's trust for Randwick Guineas tilt
Returning from a triumphant riding spell in Japan, Rachel King has her eyes set on the Sydney autumn series, with a key engagement aboard the inexperienced three-year-old gelding Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas.The esteem in which King views the Bjorn Baker stable's charge prompted her to jet in from...
Fortunes due to improve for backmarker Bauhinia
Bauhinia, known for settling towards the rear naturally, has often lacked the rub of the green in her races.Co-trainer Lee Curtis expects the mare to see her luck change for the better over autumn, kicking off in Saturday's Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick."Her work has been as good as...
Gibbons lands timely Linebacker mount after Rosehill breakthrough
An ordinary benchmark contest at Rosehill back in July evolved into a career highlight for Dylan Gibbons, setting him up to steer star performer Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.The promising jockey, mere months removed from shoulder surgery, had steered Good Banter to victory in that midwinter feature.Post-race, he...
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...