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Ray Thomas’ inside mail for 2024 The Hunter Day at Newcastle: John Sargent’s Spring Stakes spruik

Trainer John Sargent says his well-backed three-year-old French Ruler has earned his chance in Saturday’s Spring Stakes at Newcastle. Get the inside story plus Ray Thomas’s best bets for the day.

Ray Thomas
4 min read
November 15, 2024 - 3:30PM
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Trainer John Sargent is prepared to give emerging three-year-old French Ruler his chance in the Group 3 $160,000 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on Saturday.

Sargent also entered French Ruler for a class 1 race at Kembla Grange but has elected to take on stakes grade at the Newcastle stand-alone meeting.

“French Ruler is a nice horse on the way up,’’ Sargent said. “He has to go from 1200m to 1600m which is a bit of an ask but it is not an overly stacked field.

“We’ve got Nash (Rawiller, jockey) to ride and I think he’s got a good chance.’’

In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting, French Ruler is a big firmer from $26 to $8 for the Spring Stakes behind Alabama State at $3.90.

Sargent is sending four horses to Newcastle including the handy Harlow Mist for the Midway Handicap (1600m).

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Harlow Mist, a stakes placegetter last season, has indicated a return to winning form is imminent after two good runs since resuming including a last start fifth behind Kingston Charm in the Four Pillars.

“I’m really happy with Harlow Mist, she is ready to win,’’ Sargent said.

“She was a shade unlucky last start but at Newcastle she has a good gate and will get her chance.’’

Sargent said Glad You Think So had also been improved by two runs from a spell and was well-placed down in the weights for the Trans Tasman Trophy (1850m).

“Glad You Think So is reaching peak fitness now,’’ the trainer said. “I will leave it to Kerrin McEvoy but he horse should get the right run from his good draw. This does look a nice race for him.’’

Perfect Thought’s career has been punctuated by injury setbacks and a loss of form since winning the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington two years ago.

• Clinton Payne’s 2024 The Hunter tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

But Sargent maintained Perfect Thought had been trialling well ahead of his comeback in the Ausure Insurance Handicap (1300m).

“He’s had a long break and this race is short of his best but as long as he is hitting the line I will be happy,’’ the trainer added.

Sargent also revealed his VRC Oaks runner-up Powers Of Opal and Victoria Derby third placegetter China Sea were now spelling after their Flemington classic placings.

“Powers Of Opal and China Sea both ran very well at Group 1 level and we will look to get them ready for the autumn at Randwick,’’ Sargent said.

“Obviously, the Oaks will be Powers Of Opal’s target and China Sea can go to the ATC Australian Derby – those races are in our backyard this time.’’

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for The Hunter Day at Newcastle

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NEWCASTLE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: A Bar In Paris $5-$3.70, Good Hotspur $6-$4
Race 2: Piraeus $4-$3.90, Harlow Mist $4.60-$4, Brazil $11-$7.50
Race 3: Cable Express $6-$4.60, Bandasha $8-$6.50, Ghost Walker $11-$9.50
Race 4: For Victory $11-$6
Race 5: Pippie Beach $2.60-$2.50, Callistemon $26-$9.50
Race 6: Glad You Think So $5-$4.60, Ganbare $8-$6.50, Fay’s Angels $8-$7, Rogue Bear $15-$7.50
Race 7: Alabama State $4-$3.90, Snitzanova $8-$6.50, French Ruler $26-$8, Miss Spacegirl $26-$13
Race 8: Briasa $5-$2.80
Race 9: Naval College $7-$5, Nikau Spur $15-$7.50, Dionysus $11-$9
Race 10: Uzziah $11-$5, Battleton $6-$5.50

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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 2,3,5,8
Race 4: 4,5,9
Race 5: 2,5,6,10
Race 6: 2,3,5,10

QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,2,3,4
Race 8: 1,4,12,14
Race 9: 1,2,4
Race 10: 5,9,15,17

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PRICE CHECK
BRIASA (Race 8) and UZZIAH (Race 10) are two significant firmers at Newcastle. The Team Hawkes-trained Briasa was at $5 with TAB Fixed Odds earlier in the week but is into $2.80 for The Hunter. Uzziah was $11 in early betting for the final race on the Newcastle card but is into $5 and still firming.

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TRIAL POINTERS
BUFFALO (Race 1) showed speed to lead for home and although inclined to do a few things wrong in the straight, he eventually extended clear to win his Newcastle trial over 940m by a widening four-and-a-half lengths. The best part of his trial was the final 200m when he accelerated clear of his chasing rivals. He’s by Written By out of a Foxwedge mare so he’s bred for speed.

HIGHLIGHTS (Race 10) only had three rivals in his Warwick Farm heat over 1200m but could not have been more impressive as he sprinted away to win by more than five lengths. Highlights led on the turn but then he dashed clear without rider Rachel King asking for maximum effort. Highlights doesn’t have a good first-up record but has had two solid barrier trials and looks ready to go for his comeback.

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SECTIONAL STARS
The talented BRIASA (Race 8) ran two blistering 200m splits back-to-back from the 600m of 11.07s and 11.09s as he put the race away at the Kensington midweeks last starts. Briasa has brilliant acceleration as he demonstrated this day to improve his record to five wins from six starts. The Team Hawkes-trained sprinter is ready for his big class test in The Hunter.

WYCLIF (Race 9) was hopelessly held up in the straight before finally getting into the clear and flew home to just miss catching Fawkner Park in the Rosehill Gold Cup. Despite striking interference, Wyclif was still able to run his final 600m in 33.90s – the only horse in the field to break 34s for this sectional – and his closing 200m split was a brilliant 11.56s as he charged after the winner.

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BEST BET
BULLETS HIGH (Race 4) resumed with a brilliant win at Warwick Farm defeating subsequent winner Edited By then was unlucky not to go back-to-back at Rosehill when he finished strongly wide out to just miss behind Battleton over 1500m. Promising four-year-old well suited going out to 1600m on spacious Newcastle track. He looks placed to advantage.

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VALUE
UZZIAH (Race 10) returned with a dominant all-the-way win at Randwick over 1200m then backed it up with another very good effort when closing late for third behind Tristate over 1100m at Rosehill. He’s back out to a more suitable 1300m, drawn well in barrier four and drops 6.5kg to 52kg here. He’s over the odds at $9.

Originally published as Ray Thomas’ inside mail for 2024 The Hunter Day at Newcastle: John Sargent’s Spring Stakes spruik

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