Racing Confidential: Midways spark plenty of interest for city trainers

The introduction of Midway races has benefited many city trainers including John Sargent who used the races to launch the summer campaign of Pecuniary Interest.

There’s already some evidence that the Midway Handicaps run each Saturday in Sydney are helping city trainers off the racetrack.

John Sargent lines up Pecuniary Interest in the Listed January Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday off the back of two Midway wins.

And he wouldn’t have got the horse had these races $100,000 weekly races not been put on by Racing NSW.

“A friend of mine knew the owners and they were looking to get there horse to those Midway races which is why they changed to me I think,” Sargent said.

“It’s good for us because you can’t always compete with the top stables when you’ve only got 30 in work all the time.

“These Midways help us get a bit more back in the bank. They’re very good for the medium type trainers.”

Pecuniary Interest has won $219,785 from eight wins but the past two wins in the Midways make up for $92,800 of that career prizemoney so the owners made the right move.

“That’s good money for a horse that was once racing around at Parkes and Bathurst and places like that and it’s good for the owners who will then reinvest and buy something else at the sales,” Sargent said.

“This is the best racing in the world. You wouldn’t have another country racing like NSW and I’ve trained overseas before.

“I think they could still put a bit more into the maidens to help the average horse and average owners.”

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Trainer Annabel Neasham and former Sky Racing yard watcher and tipster Lizzie Jelfs are teaming up.

Jelfs will work alongside the rising trainer at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sales next week, using her talented eye to select yearlings to be trained by Neasham.

This will no doubt attract owners and probably a lot of new and younger ones as Lizzie has a strong following among the next crop of horse racing fans coming through.

Those who want to get involved can email [email protected]

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Happy 30th birthday to James McDonald who celebrated the milestone on Thursday.

Shall we go through some of his achievements?

He’s won 59 Group 1s, 255 Stakes races, five Sydney jockey premierships, is already in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and has a Melbourne Cup win in the bag.

When he peaks, in about five years, he won’t be far off Damien Oliver’s all time Group 1 wins which currently stands at 126 and counting.

Then he’ll eventually overtake Oliver and set the mark for future generations to chase – if he wants it bad enough for the next 15 or so years.

Already a true champion in the saddle.

Originally published as John Sargent is just one trainer who has been a beneficiary of the introduction of Midway races

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