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Esteban Progressing Towards Bigger Targets

Exciting staying prospect Esteban will step up to 1400m at Randwick on Saturday as he continues to build towards the Mornington Cup in March.

Sargent is aiming to win the Mornington Cup in March to give Esteban automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup next season with the Melbourne Cup also firmly on the radar.

Saturday will see Esteban have his second run of his current campaign after he resumed over 1200m at Rosehill on Christmas Eve.

Picture: Racing and Sports

"I'm expecting a nice run without thinking he's a winning chance. He should be hitting the line strongly," Sargent said.

"I think it'll be a bit short for him but when he gets up to a mile he'll be starting to get very competitive."

Sargent plans to run Esteban over 1600m at Randwick on February 4 and then look at 2000m options before the Mornington Cup on March 25.

Jockey Rory Hutchings makes his return to Sydney racing after a lengthy suspension and has an unblemished record from his two rides on Esteban.

While the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups are Esteban's long term focus Sargent believes the exciting prospect has attributes that could make him a weight-for-age star.

The trainer is known for producing top class stayers and he rates Esteban's potential in the upper echelon.

"He's not a grinding stayer. I've had a lot of those but he's more a horse that you'd think would be a weight-for-age horse in time," Sargent said.

"Weight-for-age horses have got to sprint off a fast pace. He's a horse that can do that."

Esteban's versatility to perform in fast or slowly run races is a major benefit, Sargent said.

"I am excited about him because he can do those high cruising speeds up on the pace and then kick again," he said.


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