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By Ray Hickson

Just about every time you’d talk to John Sargent in the autumn about smart filly Four Moves Ahead he was adamant she would come of age at three.

Trainer John Sargent.

So there’s plenty of expectation when she resumes in the Group 2 $200,000 Darley Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday that she could develop into the dominant filly of her age.

“She’s done very well with the age change, she’s grown and matured a lot mentally,’’ Sargent said.

“You’ll see a lot bigger and stronger filly this time in.

“Touch wood she’s injury free this time, we were always half a step behind last time but she’s had a trouble free run this prep.”

Those issues Sargent alluded to included a cold after her debut win and a knee knock in the stable two days before the Silver Slipper, forcing him to scratch from the Group 2 feature.

After winning the Sweet Embrace Stakes she ran a gallant fourth in both the Golden Slipper, which was delayed a week due to the washout meaning she was a month between runs, and Inglis Sires’ and Sargent said that’s an illustration of her ability to overcome setbacks and still perform strongly.

Four Moves Ahead caught the eye as she charged home from near the tail in her lastest trial, at Randwick on August 6, and though it wasn’t the intention to be so far back the trainer believes it was an ideal pipe-opener.

“Another horse half came across and because it was only a trial he (Nash Rawiller) didn’t bustle her, she just relaxed beautifully and hit the line strong when he asked for a bit,’’ Sargent said.

“That’s another string in her bow we can use as she gets out to the 1400m and to a mile.”

Rawiller was injured in an incident at Hawkesbury on Thursday so there’s a question mark over whether he’ll be in the saddle for the Silver Shadow, which kicks off the Princess Series for the fillies.

It’ll be the first time Four Moves Ahead, $2 favourite with TAB on Thursday, has raced on a good track and that doesn’t concern Sargent as he feels the surface will be ideal and he hopes for some early luck in running.

“She can relax so we’ll jump and work it out, either glide on over or settle in somewhere,’’ he said.

“There’s a good run down the back and she’s won over the course and distance.”

Unless the filly shows signs she won’t run out a mile her target is the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in October.

Sargent is quietly confident Brandenburg ($41) can be a factor in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at his first start since running fourth behind Zaaki at Eagle Farm in June.

A winner of the inaugural The Coast at Gosford, the five-year-old has a Group 2 win first-up over the trip to his name but his chances were dealt a small blow drawing gate 13.

“Before the draw I thought he would be very hard to beat but from the draw it’ll be tricky,’’ Sargent said.

Brandenburg runs third & Four Moves Ahead fourth in a Randwick trial on August 6

"We might ride him conservatively but I’m waiting to look at the speed map. He has got a lot of residual fitness, he only had a three week break so he will be fitter than a lot of them. He’ll run a good race if he can get a spot and not caught in the open.

“We are keen to get a Group 1 with him for his dam.’’

And Sargent warns Foxborough shouldn’t be overlooked in the $100,000 Midway Handicap (1600m) second-up after beating just two home when resuming three weeks ago.

The Group 1 placed mare was $11 with TAB on Thursday and after reviewing the replay Sargent may have a point in saying it was a luckless return and the run was better than it looks on paper.

“She couldn’t get out until 100m to go and this is a lot easier than what she’s used to racing,’’ he said.

“I think that’s the race for her. She has a good draw, (Hugh) Bowman in the saddle, she should get a gun run from there and it’s up to her to produce.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting