John Sargent warns racing at Randwick on Saturday could ‘stuff the track for The Everest’

John Sargent is concerned the Randwick track could be damaged for The Everest meeting if the races go ahead on Saturday.

Trainer John Sargent is concerned for The Everest should racing go ahead at Randwick. Picture: Mark Evans-Getty Images

Trainer John Sargent thinks the amount of rain in Sydney this week could “stuff the track for The Everest” should racing go ahead at Randwick on Saturday.

Randwick’s track currently sits in the Heavy 10 range and there’s little chance of an upgrade with another 30-40mm of rain forecast on race day.

Saturday’s races across the state have already been affected with Kembla’s meeting transferred to Scone while Forbes is postponed.

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The Kembla Grange meeting scheduled for Saturday (8th Oct) has been transferred to SCONE. Kembla has been deemed unsuitable for racing after receiving 37mls of rain over the past 24 hrs and 111mls during the week with further forecasts for more rain (1/2)

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 6, 2022

“It’s pouring here now, it has been all day and I live close to Randwick,” Sargent said.

“They might move it, I don’t know what you’d do. Would you go to Rosehill or put everything back a week? I don’t know but it’s going to be horrendous.

“There’s even more on raceday and that will stuff it up and stuff the track for The Everest.”

Sargent is set to scratch two runners (Outlandos and Perfect Thought) due to the downpour but will race handy last-start winner Pink Ivory ahead of a Melbourne assault.

“I think she’s a very good mare, she’s trialled well since her win and is ready to go on Saturday,” Sargent said.

“She doesn’t normally trial well so I was very happy with how she went the other day.

“I don’t think she’s really at home on the heavy but she’s won on it and will be there on Saturday.

“Hopefully she gets through Saturday all right then we’ll give her another trial and she’ll go down for the Matriarch.”

Pink Ivory will head to Melbourne for the Matriarch Stakes should she come through Saturday’s run all good. Picture: Bradley Photos

Bookies rate Pink Ivory as the $4.40 second favourite for the Benchnark 78 (2000m) behind Mark Newnham’s import King Frankel.

The Randwick-based horseman also heads to the races with Mayrose and is confident the heavy track won’t bother her at all.

“She was luckless first-up,” Sargent said.

“Jason Collett goes back on board and she’s probably at her peak for Saturday.

“He won on her at the track won day and it was that wet they called the races off after so she can handle it.”

Originally published as John Sargent warns racing at Randwick on Saturday could ‘stuff the track for The Everest’