Global Goal (Dylan Gibbons) was charging on the line to win the Flight Stakes. Third placegetter was on her inside - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

John Sargent had more than one reason to look elated as he faced the television cameras after Global Goal’s emphatic Flight Stakes win at Randwick. To have notched his twelfth career Gr 1 win was reason enough to be walking on air, but adding to the magic of the occasion was the presence of the baby boy on his left arm. The fledgling racegoer is ten month old Joey, son of Nathan and Lucy Trebbin who were down from the Central Coast to watch the running of the final leg of the Princess Series. Lucy is John and Susie Sargent’s only daughter, and the little bloke making his television debut at Randwick is their very first grandchild. Joey also did his best to souvenir the Ch 7 microphone. You couldn’t have scripted a better day for an expat Kiwi trainer who’s enjoyed great success in three countries.

It doesn't get much better than this! John and Susie Sargent with their first grandchild Joey minutes after Global Goal's Gr.1 win. On right is Joey's dad Nathan Trebbin - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

John’s reputation as a gifted trainer of staying fillies is set in stone. He identifies those with potential, recognises any maturity issues and waits for the individual to tell him when it’s time to get serious. “This filly was always going to take time,” says the veteran trainer. “She was an elegant but finely built little thing early days and wanted to do everything in a hurry. Her pedigree suggested she may have performed early in her two year old year, but we played the waiting game. We gave her one barrier trial in December 2025 in which she wanted to get on her way, so we put her away immediately. It was mid March before we trialled again finishing second at Randwick, and four weeks until another trial in which she finished fourth at Canterbury. In looking for a suitable first up essay we headed to Wagga for the Inglis 2YO Challenge on May 1st.

Global Goal made a late debut in the Inglis Challenge at Wagga 01/05/2026. She scored easily from Friendly Fire who won at Randwick soon after - courtesy Kylie Shaw Trackpix Racing Photography.

Nine youngsters lined up in the $200,000 feature which was run at a cracking pace. When Flex Appeal and Isn’t She Autumn cleared out in the early stages, Dylan Gibbons allowed Global Goal to balance up back in the field. She looked completely lost between horses coming to the turn, but switched on when eased into the clear on straightening. Global Goal was impressive in the closing stages to beat Friendly Fire and favourite Portland Miss. The form was confirmed three weeks later when Friendly Fire scored a gutsy win at Randwick. It was a case of mission accomplished, and out for a break went the Pinatubo filly.

Global Goal wasn’t sighted until the Rosehill trials on July 24th when she simply followed them around and finished among the tailenders. She was a little more serious three weeks later when a close second to Just Awesome in an open heat. August 22nd saw her back at the races in the 1200m Silver Shadow Stakes, first leg of the rich Princess Series. Unwanted at $14.00 over the short trip in a quality line-up, Global Goal settled last of ten. Dylan Gibbons opted to look for an inside run after straightening and was able to find one coming to the 200m where Queenslander Pembrey had dashed away with the race in her keeping. Bangkok Hottie finished strongly for second with Global Goal a pleasing first up third.

The form proved confusing two weeks later when Pembrey “flopped” in the Furious Stakes, won impressively by Bangkok Hottie. Where was Global Goal you may well ask. She was home in her box at Randwick following John Sargent’s decision to miss the second leg of the Series and give his filly a gap of four weeks into the Tea Rose Stakes, with a “tick over” trial at Randwick eight days earlier. She won the 1050m trial with consummate ease from Botanical Boy and Metallic Cat, leaving her trainer well satisfied. It’s now history that Global Goal was held up for quite some time in the 1400m Tea Rose before charging home to finish third to Bangkok Hottie and Striking Alibi. The mile of the Flight Stakes was looking better by the minute. Dylan Gibbons, who’s ridden the filly in all but her first barrier trial went into the seven horse Flight Stakes with confidence despite unwavering support for Striking Alibi. Dylan couldn’t have been happier on the first turn where Queen’s Gamble was carving out a solid pace three lengths ahead of Bangkok Hottie, with De Armas third inside Striking Alibi. Global Goal was next outside Parisest Magic with Sumac at the tail. When the speed slackened off suddenly at the 600m Dylan Gibbons produced a tactical gem. In taking off three wide he not only put Global Glamour into a better spot, but he made McDonald on Striking Alibi get going earlier than he wanted to. On top of the rise De Armas came right along the fence to grab Bangkok Hottie and Queen’s Gamble. Global Glamour was winding up but still three lengths off them, while Striking Alibi had called it a day. Global Goal unleashed a sparkling turn of foot to nail Bangkok Hottie and De Armas close to home and was drawing clear on the line to win a Gr 1 at just her fourth start.

Global Goal produced a brilliant turn of foot to beat De Armas and Bangkok Hottie in the important Gr.1 Flight Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Dylan Gibbons was still savouring the moment when I called him on Sunday morning. The talented young jockey had already tasted Gr 1 success on Explosive Jack in the 2023 Sydney Cup and on Kalapour in the 2024 Tancred Stakes, but was beginning to wonder if a third would ever come along. His association with Global Goal is the result of his support of the Sargent stable generally, but principally a reward for the time he’s put into the slow maturing filly. “She’s been a work in progress and isn’t there yet,” said the jockey. “I’ll never forget the first time I rode her at the trials when she flew out and just wanted to rip. She can still get a bit keen in her work but has become a dream to ride in her races. You’re flat out getting her on the bridle in the run but she comes alive the moment you angle into the clear. She’s not a big filly but has a huge stride in top gear. Should Sarge decide to run her in the Spring Champion Stakes I honestly believe she’ll settle with no problems.”

Dylan with John Sargent after the Flight Stakes. The Spring Champion Stakes looks likely to be her next mission - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Despite a height exceeding 170cms, Dylan Gibbons rides at a surprisingly light weight. Just lately he’s honoured several commitments at 53kgs and says he could make 52kgs for the right horse with reasonable notice. He and partner Nevada are now permanently based in the Eastern Suburbs and he’s riding most of his trackwork at Randwick lending support to John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, John Sargent, Michael Freedman and Anthony and Sam Freedman’s Sydney yard. He makes the trip to Rosehill when called upon by Team Hawkes from time to time. Dylan will be celebrating his 25th birthday in just over two weeks, and has just completed his sixth year of race riding accumulating a very impressive 521 winners.

Dylan is one of Sydney's tallest jockeys but can ride at 53kgs. The 25 year old is set for a rosy future - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

John Sargent was first to arrive at his Randwick stables on Sunday morning to be greeted by Global Goal’s empty feedbin - a welcome sight to any horse trainer. He sent the filly away to the spelling farm for a brief change of scenery on Monday morning made possible by the three week gap between the Flight Stakes and the Spring Champion on October 24th. The Global Goal backstory is an interesting one. She was bred jointly by John Messara and Jonathan Munz who keeps a number of mares at Arrowfield Stud. So impressed was Jonathan with reports he was getting about the Pinatubo filly, that he actually bought Messara out of the partnership when the filly made $250,000 at the 2025 Inglis Easter Sale.

Few fillies in the current era descend from a more prominent female side. Her dam is three time winner Tides (Fastnet Rock) who happens to be a full sister to the brilliant race filly Shoals who won six stakes races including three Gr 1’s - Myer Classic, Surround Stakes and Robert Sangster Stakes. Global Goal’s second dam is Canterbury winner The Broken Shore while her third dam is the celebrated blue hen broodmare Shantha’s Choice. This daughter of Canny Lad raced only twice for a win at Seymour and a second placing at Sandown in which she went amiss and was immediately despatched to stud. Nobody predicted the influence she was destined to have on the Australian breeding front. She became the dam of superstar racehorse and sire Redoute’s Choice as well as Gr 1 winners Platinum Scissors and Manhattan Rain. A little further back you’ll find Gr 1 winners Hurricane Sky and Umatilla. Goodness knows how many more elite performers will surface before this family loses some of its clout - if it ever does.

Jonathan Munz was attending to business interests in New York when the Flight Stakes was run in Sydney on Saturday. If he was unable to access an audio or visual coverage of the race he would have soon received the good news from his Australian Racing Manager Rodney Douglas with whom John Sargent communicates regularly. The Randwick trainer had won stakes races previously for Pinecliff Racing with Four Moves Ahead and Emeralds. “Rodney Douglas is a former trainer himself and is across every aspect of the business,” says John. “He makes my job a lot easier.”

The upcoming Thousand Guineas at Caulfield has obviously been on the agenda for Global Goal, but John believes the Spring Champion Stakes is a better option. “For a start it gives us three weeks between runs which can only benefit her, and secondly it spares her from a long trip interstate,” said the experienced trainer. “Most importantly a switch to the anti clockwise direction on a tricky track could be fraught with danger. A start over 2000m at Randwick will also give us a good guide to the likelihood of her handling the 2400m of the ATC Oaks next autumn. She’s not seasoned enough to even consider the Victoria Oaks in November, but she’ll be a different filly in six months time. Whatever happens her stocks are already soaring high after a Gr 1 Flight Stakes win at only her fourth start. It’s all ahead of her.”

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