2025 Spring Racing Carnival features beckon for late-maturing Palmetto
John Sargent believes his well-travelled stayer Palmetto is ready to deliver another strong campaign as he resumes in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill. The New Zealand-bred gelding, who secured major Australian wins in the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) and $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) last year, claimed the Canberra Cup (2000m) in March for his first local black type success.
“He has finally matured being a New Zealand-bred horse and being slow maturing,” Sargent said. “His trials have been super and I’d expect him to run well on Saturday.”
Sargent has mapped an early campaign including the Chelmsford Stakes and Feehan Stakes. While he plans to keep Palmetto at shorter trips initially, he is open to extending to 2000m and beyond depending on results. “We will see how he goes in the Feehan and how he handles that way around,” Sargent said.
Also heading to Rosehill is stablemate Vetwelve, stepping into the Midway Handicap (1500m) after a Kembla Grange win with blinkers applied. “The blinkers helped and this race should suit him,” Sargent said. “He runs on speed, he’s fit and he’s ready to go.”
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