A bone chip put an end to Super Friendship’s Hong Kong career but trainer John Sargent hopes he can continue to climb the ranks in Sydney as he eyes a hat-trick at Randwick on Saturday.
The gelding was bought for $150,000 back in 2019 and sent to Sargent with a view to heading to Hong Kong, where he showed some promise with a win from five starts before injury stepped in.
Sargent said the knee injury was relatively serious but the connections’ patience is now paying off.
“They said he would take a long time to recover so they decided to send him back via New Zealand which took about a year back to me,’’ Sargent said.
“Hence he had that big break. But he always showed something.
“He won on International Day in Hong Kong (2021) and it was a good race so he’s obviously got some ability.
“It’s hard for them to come back (to Australia) but he seems to be on the way up and I like the way he gets down and fights when he’s there to be beaten.”
That fighting spirit has been on show in Super Friendship’s wins at Gosford and Kensington, where he beat subsequent winner Media Starguest in the latter.
It’s a step up in grade into the Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers Handicap (1300m) but Sargent said he’s earned it and is happy to take it on after a positive report from jockey Josh Parr at trackwork during the week.
“Hopefully he’s going to get a soft run from the draw,’’ he said.
“I was going to go 1400m but 1300m at Randwick is a lot like 1400m on most other tracks.
“He’s a big strong boy, he’s a lovely horse, and I think he will bowl around just behind the speed and get every chance.
“If it’s down to a fight he’s the type of horse that keeps giving.”
Sargent elected to save The Seven Seas for next week after she drew poorly in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Handicap (1100m).
The filly won three straight in the country earlier this year and he said a Midway next week at Rosehill is a more suitable first-up assignment.
“She’s had a couple of easy trials. Hopefully she can go up a level from last season,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Sargent is eyeing the Spring Preview (1400m) at Rosehill on August 12 for talented colt Perfect Thought following his trial win at Randwick on Friday.
The rising four-year-old scored by just under half a length in his 1000m course proper trial defeating Hoo Ya Mal.
– Racing NSW
