Wyong preview: Trainer John Sargent is confident a wet track will play into the hands of his Championship Wildcard duo

A hard track went against French Ruler and Harlow Mist last start but trainer John Sargent feels a wet track in the Provincial-Midway Wildcard at Wyong can seem them bounce back.

Trainer John Sargent is confident both French Ruler and Harlow Mist can figure prominently in the Wildcard at Wyong. Picture: Getty Images

Circumstances haven’t gone the way of French Ruler and Harlow Mist in their attempts to claim their place in the Provincial-Midway Championship Final but trainer John Sargent remains hopeful of a change of fortune.

The pair were forced to race wide with cover in the Qualifier at Newcastle on March 20 which saw French Ruler finish sixth and Harlow Mist eighth.

Matcha Latte led all-the-way to win the race while the placegetters, Art Volant and Kind Words, raced behind the leader and three-back on the rails respectively.

“We saw the track playing to horses on the rails but our two were ridden they normally would be – especially from their barriers.

“Unfortunately thing just didn’t go their way,” said Sargent.

Snow In May prevails in the Canberra Guineas for @JohnOSheaRacing! 👏 pic.twitter.com/8N7mwP46l2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2025

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“It was a very windy day and by the time their race was run, the track was very hard which they didn’t appreciate.

“They like a bit of give in the track which they will get this week.”

Harlow Mist also contested the Hawkesbury Qualifier on February 20 where she was locked up on the fence and never got clear running when ninth behind Rapt.

The pair drew side-by-side at Newcastle with French Ruler in gate 9 and Harlow Mist in barrier 8 and have drawn alongside each other again in the Wildcard only reversing the barriers.

“She might be a bit handier from that draw, we’ll just see how the day is playing,” Sargent said.

“French Ruler should slot in midfield and it doesn’t matter if he is one or two horses out.

“There looks to be nice speed in the race which should suit him.

“At Wyong, you can travel a bit wide and it doesn’t worry you so much because it’s just one turn whereas at Newcastle, it’s hard when you are out there on that big turn and the leaders skip away.

“They just have to run one, two or three and they can schedule on for a million dollars in 10 days.”

Sargent also saddles up two leading contenders earlier in the day.

Two-year-old filly Lady Pankhurst finished sixth behind Tempted and Marhoona in the Reisling Stakes at Rosehill on debut.

Tempted wins the Reisling Stakes in fantastic fashion for @JamesCummings88! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GOmVIuwBPP

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025

The stewards report noted she pulled up with mild heat stress while Sargent discovered another problem.

“She got a stone bruise but I’m very happy with her now,” he said.

“I thought she ran a well and the first two in that race ran first and second in the (Golden) Slipper so it’s good form.

“I think she is right up there with some of the nice two-year-olds I’ve had.

“She seems to have learnt a lot from their first run. Wootton Lass did and she came out and won second-up. Hopefully she can do the same.”

The daughter of Capitalist finds herself taking on some older horse in the Midway 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1000m).

“She goes in nice and fresh and the sting out of the track will suit her,” he said.

“The track was a Soft 7 the day she won her last trial at Randwick and she went extra well that day.

“From a handy draw, she should be right up on speed and it’s all systems go.”

Sargent’s other runner is Khant Fail in the Maiden Plate (1600m).

She is coming off a handy third behind Golden Loom over 1500m at Kembla.

“I have just been waiting for the rain with her,” he said.

“She will be up on speed and with the sting out of the track, she will be a good chance.”

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The Provincial-Midway Championship Wildcard looms as an important race for popular grey, Spangler.

The Kris Lees-trained gelding faces D-Day as he looks to qualify for a second Championship Final appearance.

“He is probably on notice. He needs to show us that he still wants to race otherwise we will retire him,” said Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock.

The 2023 Provincial-Midway Championship Final winner resumed from a year-long injury lay-off with a handy fifth at Newcastle in November and while well down the order in three starts since, has had some excuses.

Spangler’s latest run was in the Qualifier at Hawkesbury on March 8 where he finished last behind Mahogany Girl after racing four-wide throughout and then getting a check in the straight.

“He was a bit stiff the other day. It was a muddling run race and he was forced to sit very wide then was chopped out in the straight,” Lovett said.

What. A. Win. 🙌

Spangler stuns in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final with a sensational steer from @mcacajamez!@Leesracing trains the quinella. pic.twitter.com/1J59fS0Ash

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 8, 2023

“Everything we have seen at home would indicate he is in a good place. He is sound and moving well.

“This is the sort of race that if he is anywhere near right, he should be in the finish.

“There still should be enough cut in the ground so I don’t think that will have an excuse.

“The sharp, tight track probably isn’t ideal but he has drawn to get a good run and get his chance if good enough.”

Australian Bloodstock are also represented in the Wildcard by the Nathan Doyle-trained The Extreme Cat.

The Extreme Choice five-year-old finished tenth behind Money Team when resuming in the Gosford Qualifier on March 15 but no doubt would have finished closer if he hadn’t lost momentum when steadied off heels at the 250m.

“He had absolutely no luck the other day. If not for the check, he would have finished on their heels. I think we can ignore that run,” said Lovett.

“He has a naught next to his name but he is a consistent horse and is capable of turning that around.

“He trialled really well prior to that run and his work has been very good.

“If he gets the breaks, I think we will see a much better performance than his first-up run.

“Whether his form is good enough to win, we will find out, but it should be good enough to have him in the finish.”