Trainer John Sargent is looking beyond unbeaten filly Harlow Mist's assignment at Kensington on Wednesday but he says the race is an important pointer to things to come this spring.
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It's far from foreign for Sargent to find an emerging staying filly at this time of the year and he has designs on an Oaks for Harlow Mist.
The three-year-old made it three from three with a win over 1800m at Flemington on September 24 and while the Star Turn @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1550m) is a step back in distance there's an expectation from Sargent that she will be very competitive.
"She's got a fair bit of weight but she's drawn well and should get a soft run but whatever she does will do her good for the Wakeful,'' Sargent said.
"It's walk over the road, a nice race for her to bring her on.
"I'm not worried if she doesn't win, as long as she runs a good race and finishes off. I've kept her fresh for this but she's naturally fit and clean winded."
Reece Jones, who won on the filly at Goulburn and Scone in her first two starts, is back on board Harlow Mist, $9 with TAB on Tuesday, at Kensington and Sargent said her natural ability to race handy will stand her in good stead.
Sargent is eyeing the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) for her next start and that race will decide whether he targets the Oaks this spring or waits until the autumn.
"That should top her off nicely to go down for the Wakeful,'' he said.
"She's come up nicely, she's a progressive type, medium size but very laid back, a typical New Zealand bred staying filly.
"She's not a big, strong, type of filly but she's gone from level to level.
"She got there early in the straight last start and held them all off so that experience will do her good."
Expect a tactic change with Toesonthenose in the James Squire Handicap (1550m).
The Randwick trainer said he'd like to see the five-year-old return to racing closer to the speed after he was forced to drift right back to near last in his midfield finish in a Midway at Rosehill two weeks ago.
"We'll probably be positive form that draw and get up on the speed,'' he said.
"He should be at his peak, he'll roll over and hopefully get a trouble free run. He will be better suited that way, he's a big striding horse. We'll hopefully see the best of him."
Meanwhile, Sargent has Kathy O'Hara booked to ride Palmetto in the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Randwick this Saturday.
