Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr weren’t certain Sabaj should continue beyond the Cranbourne Cup, but they’re now pleased they pressed on.
The in-form miler will line up in Saturday’s $2 million Group 2 The Ingham at Randwick.
The race comes three weeks after his dominant win in the Cranbourne Cup (1600m), and Kent says the only reason they’re heading north is how well the horse bounced out of that run.
“To be honest, immediately post-race we were in two minds whether to push on or not, but the following morning Mick (Price) was in the stable and he was delighted with what he saw,” Kent said.
“The horse ate very well overnight, he wasn’t too tucked up and whilst he ran a track record, we think the horse coped really well with the run.”
Sabaj enjoyed a week at Kingshaven, mixing grass work and dressage, and remains in top order.
He was among 28 nominations for The Ingham, including Gringotts, Duke De Sessa, Loch Eagle, Robusto and Yorkshire.
Sabaj has galloped the Sydney way at Cranbourne and will travel via Nagambie under the stable’s revised stopover routine before heading to Rosehill.
The former South Australian has already handled Sydney conditions, having been luckless in the Silver Eagle before his Flemington and Cranbourne victories.