Racing: Sargent sees several advantages in satellite stable

John Sargent sees more than one advantage in opening a satellite stable in Christchurch in the new season.

"There's the obvious one in trying to get black type for the owners of fillies and mares that are not quite up to the best of them in the north.

"But the other advantage is that if we have a wet spring in the Waikato I can send my Guineas horses down there very early because they can have an early spring in Canterbury."

Sargent says he is delighted to be able to initiate the Riccarton satellite through the availability of Andrew Carston, previously stable manager for Mark Walker's Te Akau operation at Matamata.

"I wasn't keen to do it until the right person came along and Andrew is perfect for the job. I imagine at the beginning there will be around a dozen horses, an operation Andrew can run with perhaps two other staff members," Sargent said.

"Initially I'll operate from the club's existing boxes on the course.

"And after three months, if all goes well, the club will look to build something specific," he said.

"There are still good dollars to be won in Canterbury." Sargent says he will look to campaign a team at Riccarton's Grand National meeting in August.

He will look to set up the new stable immediately afterwards.

Meanwhile he is concentrating on campaigning at the Brisbane winter carnival and trying to win the Queensland Oaks with class act A Chance To Dream.