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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John Sargent is keen to find out where unbeaten galloper Flying Orchid might stand as the spring progresses on the eve of his third birthday at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer John Sargent (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Officially a three-year-old already, Flying Orchid was foaled on September 14 so a win in the Group 3 $250,000 Chandon Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) would be timely.

Sargent has spaced the gelding’s two starts so far with a two month gap after his Newcastle debut win and a month since his last start victory at Wyong and with the bonus of a rain affected track he’s ready to put the horse to the test.

“We’ll find out if he’s up there with the big boys, you’ve got to have a go sometime,’’ he said.

“He’s a lovely laid back horse who does what he wants in trials and trackwork but come race day he performs.

“We’ll find out where he stands in the pecking order and whether he’s going to the good three-year-old races or staying around his rating group.”

Zac Lloyd galloped Flying Orchid, $6.50 with TAB on Thursday, earlier in the week and takes the ride in the Ming Dynasty.

What impressed Sargent the most about his latest win was how he rounded up the field in a stride and that’s a good sign when you’re looking at taking on more established peers further into the spring.

“I liked his turn of foot, if he’s got something to aim at he can pick them up,’’ he said.

“He did it in his second start too, albeit against weaker fields than this but you can only win and that’s what he’s done.

“He has a nice draw, he’ll settle midfield and he doesn’t mind a bit of give in the ground. We’re getting a bit of weight off the top two so it’s a chance for us to have a go.”

The Randwick trainer produces Meridiana for her second preparation in the Midway Handicap (1200m) which he sees as a nice starting point for the spring but warns she could find the short trip a bit sharp.

The mare won on debut then jumped straight into stakes company in April running fourth in the South Pacific Classic and third in the Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Sargent said aside from not liking the testing ground at her final run for the campaign she pulled all four shoes off in the run.

“It’s probably short of her best but it’s a good kick off point for her,’’ he said.

“She came a long way in a short time. She spelled in Queensland, she’ll go in nice and fresh wanting it a bit further than that but she will run well.

“Kerrin (McEvoy) galloped her on Tuesday, if she goes well we’ll look at some of the mares races.”

Stablemate Ningaloo Star will be headed for an appointment at the breeding barn after her second-up run in the Midway and she’ll then return to Sargent and race in foal.

She’s been out of form since placing in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes last year.

“She’s improved a lot from her first-up run and she will give some cheek,’’ he said.

Flying Orchid wins at Wyong on August 17

In-form gelding Glad You Think So has dual accepted for the TAB Handicap (1800m) and Friday’s Tuncurry-Forster Cup over a mile with Sargent leaning to staying in Sydney due to the outside barrier at Tuncurry.

John Sargent on Harlow Mist (race 10): “It’s short of her best but it’s a good kick off then she’ll go up in ground. I think she is stronger this time, a couple of nice trials, so hopefully she can hit the line and get a bit of form this time in.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting