Racing: Spring stars please Sargent

St Germaine needed her hit-out yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Matamata trainer John Sargent had only one surprise when he galloped Red Ruler and St Germaine at Te Rapa yesterday morning - the state of the track.

Sargent couldn't believe how good the Te Rapa surface proved to be.

"It was only a seven or an eight and after the rain we've had, that's remarkable," he said.

The times the two high-class performers achieved in solo gallops were still irrelevant though.

"I was happy with the way both went with Mark du Plessis up.

"St Germaine went off from the 800m and had a good blow afterwards.

"Red Ruler went from the 1000m at evens and came up only in the final bit."

Both horses will contest next Saturday's Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa and Sargent says both should improve further with that first-up race.

"For St Germaine the Foxbridge Plate should set her up nicely for the Mudgway Stakes [at Hastings on August 28] later in the month.

"She won the Gold Trail Stakes under similar circumstances last year with the sting out of the track."

Red Ruler, who holds a nomination for the Melbourne Cup, will be heading across the Tasman for the spring carnival.