“SARGE” WAS PRETTY CHUFFED WITH MERIDIANA’S LAST TO FIRST WIN

Meridiana was fairly flying on the line to beat Alabama State and Vetwelve - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

John Sargent was surprised two years ago when stable client Michael Stokes called to say he’d purchased a two year old filly on New Zealand Bloodstock’s Gavelhouse.com online sale for the princely sum of $3200. The trainer knew that owner-breeder Michael was a keen observer of the virtual sale catalogues in NZ and respected his judgement on pedigree and type. Michael is also a part owner of Palmetto who won three races in NZ before being transferred to Sargent’s Randwick stables in the autumn of 2022. His four subsequent Australian wins include the half million dollar The Coast at Gosford, the $1 million dollar Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick and this year’s Canberra Cup. The seven year old is still racing and currently boasts a career record of seven wins, and seven placings for more than $1,439,000.

Palmetto (Kerrin McEvoy) wins The Coast at Gosford 2023 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

In perusing the 2023 August Gavelhouse catalogue Michael was taken by a photograph of the bay filly by Preferment out of North And South offered by the respected Brighthill Stud. He noted she appeared to be on the small side, but of pleasing conformation. He was well aware that Preferment, a son of elite sire Zabeel had been a four time Gr 1 winner in Australia including such important races as the Victoria Derby and Australian Cup. Stokes quickly gleaned that the filly’s dam North And South was by the well bred Strategic Image and had won ten races from 1200m to 1600m. Following a little more homework, he recorded a bid and was stunned to acquire the filly for the proverbial “round of drinks.”

The little mare cost only $3200 NZ on the Gavelhouse.com online sale - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

That filly is now a four year old mare known as Meridiana. John Sargent trains her for no less than thirteen owners, and in winning Saturday’s BM72 Midway at Rosehill Gardens she took her record to two wins and one placing in just five starts for more than $109,000. “She was only a little thing when she arrived at my place,” recalled John. “It was obvious she was going to need a bit of time, but it wasn’t long before we knew she could gallop.”

The ever patient Sargent didn’t produce the Preferment filly until March 3rd of this year - nineteen months after her purchase on the Gavelhouse.com sale. With stable apprentice Molly Bourke claiming two kilos, Meridiana parked just off the pace before clearing out to easily win a 1400m maiden on the Kensington track. One month later Sargent’s opinion of Meridiana was clearly illustrated when he opted to go straight to a stakes race. With Molly Bourke retaining the ride Meridiana contested the 1400m listed South Pacific, and did a good job to come from last of eleven runners to finish fourth less than two lengths from winner Sergeant Major.

Meridiana wins her maiden on the Kensington track with Molly Bourke in the saddle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

She certainly did enough to warrant a trip to Brisbane for two fillies races over the Queensland carnival. With Damien Thornton in the saddle she ran a creditable third to Philia, beaten 2.5 lengths in the listed Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm, prompting John to stay on for the Gold Coast Bracelet. He later regretted that decision. An overnight deluge saw a H10 track rating on the day and Meridiana’s problems were compounded when she lost a plate in running. She was a long way behind winner Pinito at the finish, and the trainer couldn’t get her into the spelling paddock quickly enough. He actually decided to let her spell with the Queensland sun on her back.

The benefits of that spell were obvious when she returned in the middle of August. She wasn’t let out of second gear in two soft Randwick trials before going into last Saturday’s 1300m Rosehill Midway on the “fresh” side. Sargent opted to use Molly Bourke’s claim on stablemate Vetwelve and opted for Josh Parr as the replacement rider for Meridiana. “I use Josh from time to time, and he actually won a couple of recent races for the stable on Glad You Think So,” said the trainer. “It was James McDonald who gave Josh Parr a good wrap to me, about a year ago. He said Josh is one of the most underrated riders in Sydney and suggested I keep him in mind whenever stuck for a jockey.”

With the field reduced to only eight runners, the decision was made to ride Meridiana very quietly. Parr let her drop straight to the tail of the field from an outside gate before “tacking on” as they rounded the turn. Coming from eight or nine lengths off the lead to win impressively was one thing. To win by a rapidly widening half length and to attack the line the way she did, suggested a future well above Saturday’s level. While Meridiana was relishing the open spaces on the extreme outside, stablemate Vetwelve had to alter course from the 200m before finishing off stylishly for an eye-catching third. His turn is not far off.

Meridiana (Josh Parr) swamped the opposition in Saturday's Midway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Sargent’s Midway duo are two of the 34 horses housed at his stables in High St - stables initially known as “Baramul Lodge” and occupied by Neville Begg. When the master trainer took up a Hong Kong contract in 1990, Graeme Begg took over the premises and the winners continued to flow for several years. Now Cranbourne based, Graeme recently completed one of his best ever seasons.

John Sargent inherited his passion for racing from his father John Snr who was an enthusiastic owner in the late 60’s and early 70’s. He frequently accompanied his dad to North Island race meetings and quickly became hooked on the racing game. In late teens he took himself off to England and was lucky enough to land a job with trainer Harry Wragg, formerly one of the country’s best jockeys. After five valuable years with Wragg, John came to Australia where he worked under another legendary horseman in Angus Armanasco at Caulfield.

John Sargent is already targeting better races for Meridiana - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Fast forward to 1988 by which time 37 year old John Sargent had launched his own training career at Woodville with only a handful of horses. His talents soon emerged and he quickly announced his arrival in the NZ training ranks. John’s sense of adventure was to the fore again when he made the decision to take up the offer of stables in faraway Malaysia. Five years later he had a trainer’s premiership under his belt, with wins in local features like the Penang Gold Cup, the Perak Cup and the Selangor Gold Cup.

John Sargent was upbeat about Meridiana's future prospects when he spoke to Greg Radley after the Midway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

By the time he arrived back in NZ, John Sargent was ready to give horse training in his native land a very serious shot. Before long he was running a dual stable operation in Matamata and Christchurch for a large clientele. He posted a NZ premiership win in those busy years and won a swag of feature events including a NZ Oaks with Miss Mossman. By the time John arrived in Sydney his reputation as a trainer of staying fillies was well established. Highlighting his CV is a Queensland Oaks win with Quintessential, a Victorian Oaks with Kirramosa, and famously an Australian Oaks at Randwick with Gust of Wind fairly and squarely beating Winx whose world record winning sequence was about to begin.

John was obviously thrilled with Meridiana’s stylish win on Saturday, but equally delighted with Asgarda’s gutsy second to Sir Artie in the BM88. The former Riverina mare had a tough run on the outside of leader Felix Majestic before being run down in the shadows of the post, while other on pace runners dropped out.

The veteran trainer is very enamoured of lightly raced gelding Flying Orchid despite his disappointing effort in the Ming Dynasty Quality on September 13th. His previous wins at Newcastle and Wyong had been very dominant, and John was expecting more at Rosehill. “I was baffled,” he said. “We couldn’t find a problem, but Zac Lloyd did say he lost interest when pushed down to the fence. He’ll run in the Dulcify Quality on Saturday with blinkers on this time. He’s a lot better than his last run suggests.”

The Sargent trained Gust Of Wind fairly and squarely defeated Winx in the 2015 Australian Oaks with Tye Angland in the saddle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.