Riding tactics will be critical, with going hard early to try and cross most of the field before the first bend, or dropping to the tail of the field in the first 150m.
From her inside barrier in last week's Oaks, Quintessential enjoyed a cosy run three places back on the rail.
"We'll just have to see what the racing pattern is on the day," said Sargent.
"That will tell us what we need to do for the best."
The Oaks was run on a sloppy wet surface and the footing this time is likely to be much improved.
"It's come back to something closer to mid-range," said Sargent. "There are a few showers forecast for tomorrow and Saturday, but the weather can blow through here very quickly and I'd be tipping a reasonably good track this time."
Despite the difficulties the barrier draw presents, bookies are not taking chances with Quintessential - the filly is the $8.50 third favourite.
Sargent believes the obvious favourites are the ones to beat, including the last-start South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire.
"I saw Zabeelionaire gallop this morning and he worked exceptionally well.
"Brambles will be tough, but we finished close up behind him last time we raced him and Peter Moody's Vatuvei, who won the St Leger, is another toughie.
"They are the ones to beat."
Sargent also has relative outsider Largo Da Barra engaged as well as the two emergencies Keep Winning and Red Unicorn, both at $151.
Roger James' Red Shift is a $21 chance under Glyn Schofield and Post Restante is at $15.
Choice Bro, a group one winner in New Zealand, fell out of favour for the TJ Smith even before he drew a shocking barrier.
"Yes, he was disappointing last start," said Sargent.
"We don't know exactly why, but he is getting a bit colty and perhaps he's started thinking.
"We're going to put full cup blinkers on him and ride him cold to see if that makes a difference. We need to turn something around to beat the hot favourite Sizzling, who is very good."
Sargent also has Dollario (Michael Rodd) and Shanghai Bund (Jonathan Riddell) engaged in the A$125,000 Daybreak Lover 3YO.
Former Kiwi Wealth Princess is the third favourite at $8 for the A$1 million Stradbroke Handicap.
She failed under a big weight last start but will appreciate her 53kg tomorrow and a midfield draw. She won at her debut on a slow track in New Zealand, where her best effort was a neck second to Tavistock in the weight-for-age Waikato Draught Sprint, but 1 lengths clear of third-placed Mufhasa, in February 2010.
She will be ridden by Michael Walker who is also aboard St Germaine, a place chance at good odds, for Sargent in the second event.
Last night, a market had not been framed for the Brisbane Cup, which includes New Zealander Booming.
Hugh Bowman, who rode the gelding into fourth in the last Auckland Cup, will take the reins in what is a handy field for the group two event.
Booming has an excellent record on dead tracks and will appreciate having to carry only 55kg as against the 58kg he had to lump at Ellerslie.
He had the steadier of 59kg when narrowly beaten by Single Minded in the 2400m Avondale Cup in February.
QLD DERBY
New Zealand filly Quintessential has come up with the "impossible" 21 barrier in the classic.
It makes the job of trying to complete an Oaks-Derby double difficult.
Bookmakers though have the Matamata filly as the $8.50 third favourite.
