NEW Zealand trainer John Sargent, now relocated at Randwick, has a knack with fillies over classic distances.

Last Saturday he prepared Gust Of Wind, at just her fifth start, to land a conclusive two and a half length win in the Group 1 Australian Oaks with Tye Angland on board.

This was Sargent’s fourth Oaks win in recent years following; Quintessential (2012 Queensland Oaks), Kirramosa (2013 Victoria Oaks) and Miss Mossman (2014 New Zealand Oaks).

“It was a fantastic effort,” said Sargent. “She is probably the first filly I’ve trained that definitely has the Oaks distance, or further, in her and you’ll see her get better as she gets to the two mile distance. She has gone out for a spell now but we will aim her for Flemington in the spring as she is qualified now for the Melbourne Cup, but we will have to wait and see how she develops at four.”

By Darci Brahma, the fifth Group 1 winner for her sire and out of the Irish-bred Sadler’s Wells mare Starrystarrynight, Gust Of Wind defeated the Street Cry mare Winx with the Real Saga mare Candelara third.

“This victory was very good for New Zealand’s breeding industry,” added Sargent. “I’ll definitely be buying my staying fillies out of New Zealand because we know they can stay and are bred to do just that.”