Meridiana impresses at Newcastle

[Wandering Eyes]

Expat New Zealand trainer John Sargent expected a strong showing from Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment) at Newcastle on Saturday, and that was exactly what he got in the A$160,000 Lees Racing ‘Legend’ Mile (1600m).

The New Zealand-bred mare was heading into the Benchmark 78 handicap after a last-start second in the A$500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at Rosehill on November 1.

“She was a bit stiff in that race,” Sargent said. “She couldn’t get out when we wanted to and it cost her the race, because they weren’t really coming from the back.

“She seemed to have improved with the run, she was only second-up that day, and this looked like a nice race for her over a mile at a big track. We’ll see after this whether she carries on for another one or goes for a break.”

Meridiana was sent out as a $2.15 favourite and lived right up to those expectations in the hands of jockey Jason Collett. After settling in midfield – much closer than the 15^th spot she found herself in through the early part of the Four Pillars – the four-year-old chimed in with a smart turn of foot in the straight and went on to win by just over a length.

Meridiana has now had seven starts for three wins, two placings and A$285,650 in prize-money for her group of over a dozen owners.

Meridiana was bred by Qiji Bloodstock Ltd and is by Preferment out of the Strategic Image mare North And South (NZ), who won 10 races headed by the Listed Levin Stakes (1200m).

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