Racing: Sargent banks on easy race for import

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Sydney horseman John Sargent will settle for the least of three races as former Hong Kong stayer Banksters Bonus shoots for successive wins on Saturday.

Banksters Bonus has been nominated for the Brisbane Cup at Doomben and the Stayers Cup at Randwick, but Sargent said the last-start Canterbury winner was never a realistic chance of running in either race.

Instead, Banksters Bonus will take his place in a 2000m benchmark event at Randwick after scoring with authority under Danny Beasley at Canterbury last week.

Should Banksters Bonus prove himself for a second time against Sydney's restricted-class stayers, Sargent will be tempted to explore end-of-carnival options in Queensland.

Beasley navigated a ground-saving route on Banksters Bonus but the partnership has been split for Rosehill.

"Danny already had a ride because we weren't putting Banksters Bonus in until we saw the nominations," Sargent said.

Apprentice Brodie Loy will take over and he will claim 3kg on the 7-year-old who found his way to Australia when his form dropped away in Hong Kong after showing staying promise in Ireland.

Banksters Bonus won two races at Happy Valley but he was unplaced in his past 12 Hong Kong starts.

"He just didn't settle into Hong Kong so that's how he came to me," Sargent said.

- AAP