JOHN SARGENT EYEING ANOTHER QUEENSLAND OAKS WIN ... BUT IT WOULD BE A BOILOVER

By Graham Potter | Friday, June 7, 2024

There was a time when trainer John Sargent’s name mentioned in conjunction with an Oaks race was a very nice fit.

Over a four-year period ... from 2012 to 2015 ... Sargent snared four Oaks triumphs landing those honours with Quintessential in the 2012 Queensland Oaks, Kirramosa in the 2013 VRC Oaks), Miss Mossman in the 2014 New Zealand Oaks and Gust Of Wind in the 2015 Australian Oaks.

Now Sargent will be back at Eagle Farm on Saturday ... the scene of his first Australian Group 1 win with Quintessential ... with another Oaks prospect, Unique Ambition ... a last start winner in a modest Class 1 Handicap at Scone.

But, in spite of seemingly being up against on exposed form, Sargent believes Unique Ambition’s presence in the Group 1 feature is more than just a ‘got a ticket, got a chance’ scenario.

Sargent was pulling no punches when he spoke to Racing Queensland News, pointing out that, “It’s a big step up for her but I’ve trained some good fillies over the years and she’s right up with the best of them.

“She’s fit and well and it’ll be a nice race for her.”

Unique Ambition has won two out of four starts this preparation, shedding her Maiden ticket first-up at Newcastle on March 21 and then winning at Scone on May 17.

Sargent dismissed the filly’s two unplaced runs which separated those two wins as ‘hopeless’ because of the heavy going.

While the vastly experienced Sargent’s opinion should be noted, Unique Ambition has it all to do on Saturday ... facing a massive step up in class from Class 1 to Group 1 ... going from 1600m to 2200m ... racing at Eagle Farm for the first time (a track which has caught many runners out) ... and having to jump from an extremely wide draw.

There are just so many boxes she has to tick to get a result but, then again, that old saying ... if you have got a ticket, you have got a chance ... DOES remain true.

Michael Rodd rides Unique Ambition who is currently quoted at a price of $61.

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