John Sargent is happy with the condition of Gust Of Wind ahead of the 2015 Turnbull Stakes, but the talented trainer believes that the staying mare will take plenty of benefit out of the run as she heads towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Gust Of Wind will contest the Turnbull Stakes before she progresses to the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart
Gust Of Wind stamped herself as a filly to watch when she took out the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick during The Championships and she started her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a credible ninth in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 before she produced some of the fastest closing sectionals when eighth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12.
Sargent is happy with the progress that Gust Of Wind has made this preparation and he told Racing Ahead that he just wants to see the Darci Brahma mare hit the line strongly in the final stages of the Turnbull Stakes this weekend.
“She is just where I want her,” Sargent said.
“Whatever she does on Saturday she will improve on and that will top her off for Caulfield.
“She drops down in the weights there and then it is the Melbourne Cup.
“She is working very well and as like as she is hitting the line like her first run then I will be very happy and I’ll know she is on track for the Cups.
“I don’t think she can beat Kermadec and co. over that distance with the weights, but over 2400 and two miles I think that we will see the best of her.”
Craig Williams has been booked to ride Gust Of Wind in the Turnbull Stakes, but he has been booked to ride Japanese stayer Hokko Brave in the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.
Sargent said that there has been plenty of interest from lightweight jockeys keen to ride the talented mare in both races during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
“Craig Williams will ride on Saturday just for a one off and he goes to the Japanese horse for the Cups after that,” Sargent said.
“Glen Boss has been on the phone and a few of the other lightweight riders as well.
“We are just taking Saturday and obviously if she runs well we will have more trying to get on.
“We have just left it for this race and then we will speak to the owners and decide what we want to do.”
The 2015 Turnbull Stakes field will be released and Gust Of Wind is set to take on the likes of Happy Trails, Rising Romance, Hartnell, Set Square, Royal Descent and Alpine Eagle in the Group 1 event at Flemington on Saturday.
