Sergeant major primed for impact on return to Randwick track

With a Listed victory already under his belt, four-year-old Sergeant Major still has untapped potential according to Ciaron Maher assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord.

While acknowledging the gelding's modest form since capturing the South Pacific Classic (1400m) in the Sydney autumn carnival last year, Gerard-Dubord counts himself among the horse's keenest advocates.

"If he finally puts it all together, he's got a lot of ability. We haven't seen the best of him yet," Gerard-Dubord said.

Besides his Sydney autumn success, Sergeant Major notched two stakes placings at three before disappointing across four starts last spring.

Following a midfield placing at Eagle Farm in November, the stable granted him a prolonged rest, a move Gerard-Dubord credits despite the on-track lack of success from that Queensland foray.

"In his work, he looks like he could be anything, but he has been a bit disappointing at the races, even though he is a Listed winner," he said.

"Last prep, we felt he wasn't going as well as he could and he's a gelding, so he is always going to keep improving. We stopped, reset and came back at this time of year.

"The trip to Queensland seems to have done the job, like it did with Gringotts and Jimmysstar.

"He has changed physically and mentally. He has done really well."

The trainer likens Sergeant Major to Gringotts, who flourished at five years old and took out the last two runnings of The Big Dance (1600m).

In a similar vein, Gerard-Dubord sees potential for the gelding to target those sorts of contests down the line.

"He has always shown a lot of ability, and I have always compared him to Gringotts," Gerard-Dubord said.

"He could be a Big Dance horse at some stage. We'll play it by ear. But he is back at a good time, and there are good races in Queensland at the back-end of the carnival if he's going well enough."

The gelding has seen early betting action, shortening from $16 to $11, and will lug 57kg with the aid of three-kilo claiming apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald.

Visit the online bookmakers to find the best markets for Sergeant Major's Randwick return.