Ray Thomas' tips, inside mail for Randwick on Saturday: High hopes for John Sargent-trained Change My Address

News.com.au

2 days ago

Trainer John Sargent has revealed the comical explanation behind the naming of bargain basement buy, Change My Address.
'It means if she can win enough prizemoney I will be changing my address,'' Sargent said. 'If she wins The Everest or something, I will be moving to Vaucluse!'
Change My Address, who got her race career off to a winning start at the midweeks, puts her perfect race record on the line in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
She banked nearly $60,000 for her Warwick Farm debut win and has given part-owner Sargent a deposit if he is really serious about moving home.
All this from a filly Sargent purchased for just $10,000 online.
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'I saw her about six weeks before the (Magic Millions) sale and I liked her then,'' Sargent said.
'At the sale, she was one of the later lots and I had already spent my money.
'They wanted $30,000 and she was passed in. Then the stud rang and told us they were putting her online and we got her for $10,000.''
Change My Address, a daughter of Group 1 winner Exceedance, handled the heavy conditions expertly on debut when she defeated her rivals comfortably.
But Sargent's filly is rated a $10 chance in early TAB Fixed Odds betting behind topweight Hidden Motive, the $2.60 favourite.
Don't get this one lost in the mail! ðŸ'¨
Change My Address wins on debut for @MollyBourke7 and @jsargentracing! @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/3T1SpYgHRq
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 21, 2025
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'This is a stronger field but she is well and can only do what she did at her first start,'' Sargent said. 'We know the heavy track won't bother her.''
Sargent also has promising three-year-old filly Bearings contesting the Consortium Clemenger Handicap (2000m).
Bearings scored a good win in very heavy conditions at Newcastle last start but it was not enough for the filly to earn her place in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Sargent has lowered his sights to target the Randwick race.
It's a win to Bearings in the @goulburnraces opener for @jsargentracing and @jeanvovermeire ðŸ'� pic.twitter.com/rcGc6zBRyT
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 28, 2025
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'I don't think she was right at home on that really heavy track at Newcastle, she couldn't really let down but still got the job done,'' Sargent said.
'This is a nice race for her Saturday, she gets in with a light weight, she has only had the three runs so we will keep her going.
'Now she missed a go in the Oaks there is no rush to go to anything so we will just give her the chance to work through her grades.''
• McEvoy chases slice of history in Queensland Oaks
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RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Matima $6-$4.40
Race 2: Engine Room $6-$5, Callistemon $15-$8
Race 3: Changing Colours $8-$5.50, Good Banter $11-$6.50
Race 4: Shropshire Lad $8-$5, Bengal $11-$6.50 including a bet of $1050 e/w at $10/$3.20, Carribean King $15-$8.50
Race 5: Hurstville Zagreb $6-$2.80 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $5/$2.10, Rotagilla $15-$6.50, Duvana $26-$11
Race 6: Federer $3.60-$3.50, Oh Diamond Lil $4.60-$3.90
Race 7: Cool Jakey $3.50-$2.80 with a bet of $2600 at $2.90, Mighty Ulysses $15-$10
Race 8: In Flight $3.50-$3.40, The Novelist $4.60-$4.40, Barber $8-$6.50, Contemporary $15-$10, Kazou $15-$10
Race 9: Whinchat $4.60-$3.80, Accredited $11-$6, Fleetwood $15-$7
Race 10: Gitalong $8-$7, Winning Proposal $15-$8.50
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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 2,4,7,8
Race 4: 3,4,6,12
Race 5: 1,8,11,12
Race 6: 6,12,14
QUADDIE
Race 7: 3,9,12,15
Race 8: 4,7,8
Race 9: 2,10,11,19
Race 10: 2,4,6,10
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PRICE CHECK
HURSTVILLE ZAGREB (Race 5 No.1) has firmed from $6 to $2.80 favouritism after consistent support all week including a bet of $1000 each way at $5/$2.10. But Hurstville Zagreb isn't the only well-backed runner in this race with ROTAGILLA (5) 's odds slashed from $15 to $6.50, while DUVANA (3) opened at $26 and is into $11.
A winning debut for Hurstville Zagreb at Goulburn! @JohnOSheaRacing pic.twitter.com/hhvsliJKPh
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 11, 2025
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SECTIONAL STARS
ELIVINA (Race 5 No.14) ran on very well when fourth to runaway winner Let's Fly at Randwick in very heavy conditions. The lightly-raced filly was timed to run her final 600m in 37.24s, one of the best of the meeting, and she broke 13s for her closing 200m split.
✈� Let's Fly makes a mess of them all at Randwick! @NockBraith | @R1CHARDFREEDMAN | @willfreedman pic.twitter.com/DwJnrhugwA
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025
TESTATOR SILENS (Race 9 No.19) is an emergency but if he gets a run, he's a good each way chance. He has been improved by two runs from a spell including his last start effort at Randwick when he made good ground late behind Storm The Ramparts to finish sixth over 1000m, recording a closing 600m sectional of 35.72s the second fastest of the meeting in very heavy conditions. His final 200m split of 12.47s was the fastest on the day.
Storm The Ramparts leads from start to finish and wins at Randwick! ðŸ'Œ
Hippo gets his double! ✌� @PrideRacing pic.twitter.com/BY5yFVTQip
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025
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TRIAL POINTERS
CENTRAL COAST (Race 1 No.7) is a superbly bred colt by sire sensation Wootton Bassett out of triple Group 1 winner Sunlight who cost $1.4 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale last year. Trainer Chris Waller has given the equine blueblood plenty of time and the colt has had two barrier trials to prepare for his debut. Central Coast impressed in his recent trial when he settled behind the leaders, eased off heels to get out wider in the straight and closed off nicely to finish a half length second.
All eyes on the runner-up: 2nd trial for 2nd foal of Sunlight - Central Coast (2c Wootton Bassett x Sunlight)
$1.4mil buy foor @PMBRacing & Catherine Bruggeman from @CoolmoreAus at @inglis_sales Easter.
1st - Albany Road (2c Exceed And Excel x Miss Toorak Flyer)
650k buy for… pic.twitter.com/gkL9KBkwec
— Breednet (@BreednetNews) May 29, 2025
FEDERER (Race 6 No.14) showed considerable promise in his debut preparation last spring, winning his first start by nearly four lengths at Ballarat then romping home by six lengths at Sandown. He failed at Caulfield and was spelled. The four-year-old by champion Arrowfield Stud sire Dundeel out of Caulfield Cup winner Jameka has had two barrier trials in recent weeks, improving noticeably in his Warwick Farm heat on May 26 when he finishing strongly for a close second.
"I said if this horse gets beat at his first start, I'm going to give up training."
It's fair to say Declan Maher has a good opinion of Federer ðŸ'' @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/VxqX8sN1G3
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 8, 2024
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BEST BET
HIDDEN MOTIVE (Race 1 No.1) came off minor placings in strong two-year-old form races with a dominant win at Hawkesbury last start. Hidden Motive settled on speed but was kept under a tight hold before he cruised to the front at the 300m and raced away to win by nearly four lengths. His winning margin could have been doubled if his rider put the colt under more pressure. Promising two-year-old who handled soft 7 conditions well last start, he is drawn to get all the favours and should be too good for his rivals.
The Private Harry connection of trainer @NathanDoyle015, syndicator Sean Driver and jockey @AshMorgan6 will combine with another boom young sprinter Hidden Motive at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Story: @RayThomas_1 ðŸ'‡ https://t.co/DhR2Qj91J9
— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 5, 2025
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VALUE
CONVERGENT (Race 2 No.10) is a rising five-year-old who only made his debut on Anzac Day where he settled a clear last in a small field, went wide on the turn, and reeled in his rivals to score an impressive win. He has had a barrier trial between runs but has been kept fresh for this 1500m race. Emerging stayer and although he is eligible for easier races, he's good each way value at $12.