Kiwi mare Quintessential showed her liking for Eagle Farm and a wet track by taking out the Group 3 $115,000 Landfill Logistics Pty Ltd Chairman’s Handicap (2100m) today.

Quintessential (inside) holds off Rothera in the Chairman's Handicap at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello

The John Sargent trained four year old hasn’t won a race since winning the Group 1 $400,000 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm twelve months ago in similar conditions.

“It was very similar track like this on Oaks day. We’ll step her up to two four now in one of the Cup races, be it the Brisbane Cup or whatever,” Sergant said.

Sargent said that he had originally planned to tell Damian Browne to ride Quintessential back in the field form the wide alley, but when the track was downgraded to a heavy 8 decided the instructions were changed to ride her handily.

“I was directing him to go back early in the day because of the draw, but its playing for forward horses today, you have to be right there,” Sergant said.

Brown followed the instructions to a tee and let Quintessential slide around the field at the 1600m and sitting just off the leader down the side.

At the top of the straight Browne let the Oaks winner quickly taakee control of the race held off the strong finish of runner-up Rothera and Sysmo.

“Nearly an identical day, a bit of rain about, a bit of moisture in the track,” Browne said.

“It’s very hard to make ground. I went just before the corner to get ten off the bit. I knew it would be a hard slog up the straight.”

With Quintessential back in winning form, Sargent can head towards the Group 2 $300,00 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 with confidence.

Following the Chairman’s Handicap, the Eagle Farm track was downgraded further to a heavy 9.