Racing: Double sees Sargent back in command

Just when you thought Matamata horseman John Sargent might have been experiencing a slightly quiet early summer by his extremely high standards, along came Ellerslie yesterday.

Forget the black book, get out the platinum book and include the names Maciano and Blonde Bombshell, even if they're the only two there.

In the space of 28 minutes Sargent absorbed that moment all trainers look for in their season - when they know they have one, or, in this case, two coming topliners in their care.

Twenty-four hours is a long time in horse racing, but Maciano also has at least one leg in the air for one of the favourite spots for the NZ Derby at Ellerslie on March 6.

His 1600m maiden win at Ellerslie yesterday was quite remarkable.

It was not only achieved on raw ability, it was done at nowhere near top gear, according to rider Leith Innes.

And mark down Blonde Bombshell.

She's also a coming very good horse. It might have been a maiden field she beat at Ellerslie yesterday, but destroyed is a better word than beat.

It was as much the way Blonde Bombshell did it as what she did.

There was an indication here that class does not come cheap.

Maciano, by Redoute's Choice from Derby-winning mare Popsy, went through the Karaka sales for $1.45 million and Blonde Bombshell for $150,000, a top-end price for a Towkay filly. Popsy's breeder and owner, Hawkes Bay banker Sam Kelt, helped put a syndicate of 10 owners together for Maciano.

The remarkable feature of Maciano's win was that he simply gawked around at the crowd when in front in the closing stages of the The Mad Butcher Mile with his ears flapping as if he was in a stroll at the beach.

"He pulled up to three-quarter pace," said rider Leith Innes.

"The good thing was he kept galloping straight."

Sargent has high hopes for the expensive colt. "Look at him, he's so weak yet," he said as Maciano came back to the birdcage.

"If the Derby was at the end of this month he'd be no hope to make it. Now it's in March, he'll be there."

Sargent was pleased the colt had experience with a big twilight meeting crowd.

"I said to Sarg, just keep bringing him here to Ellerslie, don't bother going anywhere else," said Innes.

The impressive part of Blonde Bombshell's effort in the 91ZM 3YO was the way she balanced then sprinted clear of the opposition in the home straight despite not yet really knowing what racing is all about.

She is owned by Sir Patrick Hogan in partnership with Auckland Racing Club directors Alistair Sutherland and Peter Walker.

The filly is a granddaughter of Walker's outstanding mare Tycoon Lil.

Gallant might have been aided by an inside barrier draw, but he was impressive winning the $20,000 Barfoot and Thompson Twilight Cup last night.

The entire impressive six-race Ellerslie programme was about emerging horses and Gallant and runner-up Nadege fitted that profile.

"I think there's a good race in him," said trainer Ken Kelso of Gallant, after the horse poked through a rails gap to score narrowly.

"I'm thinking of a race like the Thorndon Mile, but I haven't nominated, I'd take the late acceptance fee if that looked appropriate.

"But I think he'll end up being a 2000m horse. His mother [Limerick] was an Oaks filly."

In keeping with the day's proceedings, Corporal Jones looked another potential topliner in winning the final event, the Auckland Co-op Taxis Handicap, to give jockey Michael Coleman a winning double on the final two races.