Guest right at home

Sargent at odds with bookies’ estimation of his mare

Trainer John Sargent couldn’t believe his handy mare Mountain Guest opened at doublefigure odds and feels she can cause an upset when she heads to Canterbury on Wednesday.

The four-year-old has contested Midways at both runs back from a spell. She closed strongly to finish just behind the placegetters both times.

Mountain Guest came from last in a field of 16 when beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths into sixth place behind Dr Evil over 1500m on February 24.

She again came from well back when seventh to Kingston Charm, beaten by three lengths, at Randwick on March 9.

She steps up to a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1550m) but drops down to 55.5kg with Tyler Schiller to ride.

“She is going into this race at false odds, I think,” Sargent said. “She was good to the line in that race at Randwick last start.

“I just gave her a little freshen-up as there wasn’t a lot around for her after that. She is jumping out of her skin and will run well fresh this week.

“From the draw, she shouldn’t get too far back, she has an in-form jockey onboard and she should be hitting the line strongly.”

Sargent saddles up Toesonthenose in the same race and expects the gelding to run a cheeky race with an eye to a country cup in two weeks.

The son of Ocean Park was last behind Green Shadows when resuming over 1400m at Warwick Farm on April 1 but he did have a tough run out three wide.

“They were just a bit too nippy for him first-up over the 1400m,” Sargent said.

“He’s a year older now and is just taking a bit longer to come up. He is a lot fitter now from that run.

“The step up in trip to the 1550m will suit him much better and this race should top him off nicely for the Wagga Cup in a couple of weeks.

“It’s a good stepping stone and it’s out to his limit with a claim on his back so I think it’s a nice race for him on the way through. With that weight, and the track will be a nice surface, it should suit. He will bowl along up on speed and he is not the worst chance in the race.”

Sargent was more than happy with Casual Connection’s two runs back from a spell over shorter-than-ideal trips and feels he is up to a distance (1900m) where he can show his best.

The five-year-old was less than three lengths behind Sweet Mercy when seventh over 1400m first-up before finish less than a length in fourth behind Zondee over 1550m on the Kensington on March 27.