Sargent bags Gold Coast double

NEW Zealand trainer John Sargent kicked off his Queensland winter campaign with a winning double at the Gold Coast this afternoon.
Sargent has nine horses in Queensland for the carnival, including highly-regarded youngster Choice Bro who runs at Doomben on Saturday.
The Matamata trainer was successful today with Cathay Lady ($7.50) in the Xmas In July Dining F&M Class 2 Hcp (1400m) and Keep Winning ($3.50) in the 18 August International Raceday Class 1 Hcp (1800m).
Stable foreman Marina Compton and her husband, former top jockey Bruce Compton, are looking after Sargent’s Queensland team.
“John has some nice horses here for the carnival,’’ said Marina Compton. “Choice Bro runs at Doomben on Saturday but that race might be a touch short for him. And we also have a couple of nice three-year-olds here like Shanghai Bund and Dollario who are up to Queensland Derby standard.
“Keep Winning (pictured) might also earn himself a Queensland Derby start if he can keep winning.’’
Cathay Lady, a daughter of Exceed And Excel, was a $130,000 graduate of the 2010 Inglis sale in Sydney.
Keep Winning, by Keeper, was a $145,000 purchase at the 2010 NZ Premier Sale.
Story: Neil Archer
Photo: Trackside Photography Pty Ltd