Sangster has not been seen at the races since the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but the 2011 Victoria Derby winner is set to return to the races in New Zealand before heading to Australia for a tilt at the 2014 Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Sangster has not won in Australia since he took out the 2011 edition of the Victoria Derby. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Sangster was set for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but he was restricted to just two race starts in Australia after he was unable to handle the firm ground in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 5.
Foot issues kept the Savabeel gelding away from racing during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but co-trainer Natalie Young told the New Zealand Racing Desk that the rising six-year-old had gotten over the problem and would be set for the Group 1 Spring Classic (2040m) at Hawkes Bay on October 4 before heading to Australia for another Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
“He looks fantastic and we’re really happy with him,” Young said.
“We were battling with his feet last time in, but they are really good now.
“He’s done three weeks’ work and we could look at the Spring Classic here and then go over for races like the Moonee Valley Cup and the Sandown (Zipping) Classic.”
Sangster made his Australian racing debut during the 2011 Spring Racing Carnival with a win in a benchmark 65 event at Warwick Farm on August 23 and after finishing in the placings in both the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick and the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, scored an upset win in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
He failed to fire in five race starts during the 2012 Autumn Racing Carnival, but returned to his best form with wins in the 2013 Group 1 International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, Group 2 Avondale Gold Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie and the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at the same venue before returning to Australia where he finished seventh in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and third in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m).
Sangster was unable to record a win in his four race starts during his spring campaign last and was sent to the spelling paddock prematurely after failing to beat a runner home in the Turnbull Stakes.
The Group 1 winner is currently available at the lengthy 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of $151 in the betting market for the race with Ladbrokes Australia.
