Trainer John Sargent thinking big with 2024 Dulcify Stakes hope China Sea

With one eye on Group 1 goals later this spring, trainer John Sargent is expecting China Sea to lay down a marker in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer John Sargent is expecting China Sea to lay down a Group 1 marker in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Sargent believes China Sea could be a Spring Champion Stakes-Victoria Derby style of three-year-old and his highly-promising son of Fastnet Rock can take a step in that direction on home soil.

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“China Sea is a serious horse,” Sargent said.

“He will go here and then either the Spring Champion or if he runs well here or down to Melbourne for the Derby.

“He is a half to Greysful Glamour and Celestial Falls so he is well bred and can stay.

“I think it looks a nice race for him Saturday.”

Sargent showed his high opinion of China Sea early on after testing the gelding in Group 1 company once at just his second start.

The lightly-raced galloper won his debut at Kembla Grange but came up short in the JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm in June.

“He won well first up and I thought we will put him in there,” Sargent said.

“He was probably over the top by then but the trip did him good but he raced upside down.

“Mentally more than physically he was a bit immature and it just didn’t work out.”

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China Sea has come back a more mature galloper and was excellent first up over an unsuitable trip in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).

Despite finishing ninth, he highlighted his staying potential when running the fastest last 600m of the event.

Rory Hutchings will jump back aboard China Sea in the Dulcify, in which he is rated a $16 chance.

“Rory rides him and he rode him all through his last campaign,”

“He galloped him on Tuesday and he just relaxes in the run.

“He won’t be on speed but as you saw last start, he can hit the line.”

China Sea is a $26 chance for the Spring Champion Stakes as well as the Victoria Derby.