Top-flight targets await the talented Soldier Boy if, as expected, he produces a bold showing at New Plymouth on Saturday.
The son of Proisir will step out in the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m) with Kate Hercock again booked for the ride and the step up in distance will ideally suit the five-year-old.
Off a five-month break, Soldier Boy resumed in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) and his eighth placing behind the winter marvel Justaskme didn’t tell the full story.
“He was very unlucky and got held up for five strides and only got beaten a bit over three lengths,” trainer Gavin Sharrock said.
“I expected him to be right in it and I’m not taking anything away from Justaskme, he’s a very good horse and was carrying 7kg more, but he got an interrupted run and lost momentum.”
Soldier Boy has subsequently trained on well with Sharrock confident the gelding’s performance on Saturday can confirm plans to step up to weight-for-age company in the last two legs of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival.
The Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) will be run on September 30 and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) a fortnight later.
“I know he’s only won four races, but he’s run fourth in the New Zealand Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and won the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m),” Sharrock said.
Soldier Boy also has a victory in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) and a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on his resume.
“He’s won nearly $200,000 so he’s certainly no mug,” Sharrock said. “He had no luck in the Karaka Classic (Listed, 1500m) either, he was five wide outside the leader and he still ran fifth.”
Out of Ekraar’s daughter Forty Love, he is owned by co-breeder Gavin O’Dea, a Hawera accountant who also raced Soldier Boy’s sister Vancooga.
“She’s been a good mare and Vancooga only had a few starts and won one and ran second in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m),” Sharrock said.
“She has been retained as a broodmare and she’s got a Vadamos yearling.”
Sharrock is also awaiting the imminent arrival of another member of the family.
“There’s a full-brother, a two-year-old colt, who has been broken in at Cambridge and will be coming into my stable later this week. I’ve seen him and he’s a magnificent horse,” he said.
Forty Love is back in foal to Proisir while Vancooga was served last season by Armory.
Sharrock will also be represented by the in-form Shez Super in Saturday’s Nelson Pine Handicap (1600m) and Hot Shizzle, who copped a wide run when resuming at Hawera, in the Steel & Tube Handicap (1400m).