Merson Cooper Stakes target for Sanglier

James Cummings expects Sanglier to run well in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown.

A decision to show patience with Sanglier could have a significant reward in the Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown.

Sanglier finished sixth on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington last month and the Godolphin colt was entered for last Saturday’s Group Three Maribyrnong Plate at the same track.

The two-year-old was scratched from that Flemington race to instead run in Saturday’s Listed Merson Cooper (1000m) with Damian Lane to ride.

“I’m happy with the decision to come to this race on a track I think will suit him,” trainer James Cummings said.

“He comes into it off an unlucky, unplaced run on debut at Flemington and the experience will have done him a lot of good.

“He’s a strong-looking sprinting colt. It’s going to be interesting to see what improvement he makes second time out.”

Sanglier was racing in restricted room along the inside at a crucial part of the straight-track race at Flemington when finishing just over three lengths from the winner Nomothaj.

The Merson Cooper has attracted a field of eight and Sanglier is one of three juveniles taking race experience into the event.

One of them is the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Long Leaf who won on debut at Morphettville late last month.

The other is the Aaron Purcell-trained Yulong Monoceros was fifth in the Group Three Ottowa Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Flemington eight days ago.