Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It’s not quite make or break for talented mare Emeralds at Canterbury on Wednesday but trainer John Sargent is expecting to see what she’s made of with the addition of blinkers and premier jockey James McDonald.

The new season four-year-old is still the winner of just one race in nine starts but her efforts in group company have stamped her as a potential stakes performer now she’s maturing.

And with an eye-catching first-up fourth at Kensington a few weeks back under her belt Sargent says the Too Harn Hot @ Darley Handicap (1250m) is a pivotal race.

“That was the best sectionals of the day first-up and she seems to have come on well from it,’’ Sargent said.

“If we can get up and win we will start looking at moving her to 1400m then have her at her peak after that to get that black type.

“We’ll have to get her rating up in the next couple of starts. She’s on the way up, she’s working fine and eating well and I couldn’t be happier with her.”

As Sargent alluded, Emeralds was responsible for some outstanding sectionals in her resumption on a day it was difficult to make ground from the back.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed her last 600m of 35.10 was the best of the meeting, as was her final 200m of 11.93, in running fourth behind Killin over 1100m.

Emeralds runs fourth at Kensington on July 18

Sargent claimed the 3kg by using Louise Day in her first-up run but she’ll carry the full 58kg on Wednesday, where she’s $3.50 with TAB, after the opportunity to secure McDonald arose.

“James’s manager rang up for the ride so hence he’s on board, nothing wrong with the way Louise is riding but if you can get the best you put them on,’’ he said.

“I thought she would be closer (in the run first-up) but she attacked the line and I think the blinkers will add a new dimension to her, she should be able to slot in.

“They will run along and he should slot in somewhere. Hopefully there’s no big bias.’’

Stablemate Home Ground should have ‘no excuses’, according to Sargent, with the aid of a 2kg claim for apprentice Chris Williams when he lines up in the TAB Handicap (1900m) after two runs back from a spell.

The Randwick trainer suspected Home Ground, who had 18 months off the scene after going to Hong Kong, might be half a run short when he ran fifth to Le Lude in testing ground at Kensington on July 18 and said an improving track would be in his favour.

“With the one draw he will be behind the speed and I’ve claimed a couple off him,’’ he said.

“Chris has galloped him so he knows him.

“It’s not an overly strong field and it will show us where we are at with him and we could aim him at a race like a Newcastle Cup.”

Meanwhile, Doncaster placegetter Brandenburg will have his second trial at Randwick next Tuesday before resuming in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 22.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Canterbury meeting