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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John Sargent is no stranger to unearthing a potential Oaks filly and he may have one for later in the season in the shape of Meridiana, who makes her debut at Kensington on Thursday.

Trainer John Sargent (Pic: Bradley Photos).

A bout of shin soreness late last year meant Sargent had to be patient with the three-year-old, and put any ATC Oaks plans out the window, and he says it appears to have paid off.

Meridiana, on the back of an eye-catching trial win, gets her chance to impress Sargent in the Drinkwise Plate (1400m).

“She looks a lovely type of three-year-old,’’ Sargent said.

“She came over from New Zealand and just needed some time. She went shin sore after her first trial so I thought we’d bring her in a bit later and aim her for Queensland if she goes well on Thursday.

“She’s shown a lot of potential in her trials, she doesn’t do a lot on the track so hopefully she’ll come out on race day and go well.”

James McDonald rode Meridiana in her runaway trial win at Rosehill back on March 6 but as the champion jockey is suspended the trainer had no hesitation on calling on his apprentice Molly Bourke to take 2kg off the filly’s back.

Bourke is currently one win behind Zac Wadick as they chase the champion apprentice title for 2024/25.

It was partly on McDonald’s recommendation that Sargent decided to kick off at 1400m, saying she’s such a laid back filly it wouldn’t matter whether the race is 1200m or 1400m plus the race is at Randwick.

“Molly has already trialled her and it’s a good chance for her to have a nice ride,’’ Sargent said.

“From the one draw she will just go to sleep somewhere and we hope to get the breaks.

“I said to James after the trial whether we should go 1200m or 1400m and he said it didn’t matter she is quite relaxed.

“She could have started at Kembla in the 1200m maiden on Friday but since it’s over the road we might as well kick off there.”

It seems nobody missed the trial win as Meridiana was $2.15 with TAB on Wednesday to make a winning debut, and in his own way Sargent is somewhat confident that she can.

“I think she should run well as long as she gets the breaks,’’ he said.

“There’s no reason she shouldn’t run well, I’ll be there with anticipation she’ll put her right foot forward. She has so far so there’s no reason she won’t do it race day.”

Meanwhile, Sargent’s current ATC Oaks contender Powers Of Opal will continue her build up to next month’s Group 1 in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Randwick trainer is looking for an improved showing from the VRC Oaks runner-up at her second run back though concedes she’ll be better suited when she reaches the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in two weeks.

“It’s a bit short for her but it’s a run around Rosehill,’’ he said.

Meridiana wins a trial at Rosehill on March 6

“As long as she’s hitting the line better we know we are on line for the two main aims.

“She worked well on Tuesday on the course proper so I’m happy with her.”

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Kensington meeting