New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock made the most of a five-and-a-half-hour road trip to Hastings on Saturday when he secured a one hundred percent winning strike rate with his three runners on the day.
Sharrock left home at 3am on Saturday morning, arrived in Hastings at 8:30am and put his first runner, Darci La Bella on the track in race three at 12:34pm.
The progressive four-year-old mare was sent out a warm $2.30 favourite and didn’t disappoint as she glided home on the Heavy10 surface to win the open 1200m contest and make it seven wins from just 11 career starts.
One race later potential summer cups candidate Ladies Man also followed a similar script when he stormed home from well back to win at the same $2.30 quote, which just left talented winter performer Justaskme to round out a perfect day for Sharrock.
The six-year-old son of No Excuse Needed didn’t disappoint as he relished the 4kg claim of apprentice Jeetesh Mudhoo and the testing track to finish over the top of the Kevin Myers-trained pair of Verry Flash and Kick On and register his first victory since taking out the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) in November last year.
Sharrock is enjoying a stellar season, sitting seventh on the national trainers’ premiership with 44 wins and he was relishing the lengthy trip back home after such a successful day.
“It has been a big day as we left home at 3am, but the way I feel right now I might as well be flying I’m that happy,” he said.
“I thought the first two looked dead set winners with a little luck, but it was Justaskme who had me worried as he can have the odd bad day.
“The kid (Mudhoo) did a super job on him as he wanted to knock off when he got to the front but he kept him going and he won it well.”
Sharrock is resigned to Justaskme and Darci La Bella clashing at their next start with both set to contest the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup (1400m) on their home track on July 23.
“We have to have a crack at the Opunake Cup with Justaskme as it is on his back doorstep and he will relish a really deep track,” he said.
“He will probably carry the grandstand, which will help Darci La Bella as she will get in on a light weight but despite that there won’t be a lot between them.
“Longer term I think Justaskme could be a chance in a race like the Livamol Classic (Gr.1, 2040m) at Hastings as he is bred for a trip like that and if he struck an off track, he would be right in it.
“Darci La Bella will go to the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) after the Opunake Cup and if she is up to it then the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) on the first day at Hastings.”
Sharrock is keen to set Ladies Man for the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January and will now send him for a month in the paddock before bringing him back for a summer campaign.
“There is not a lot left for him at the moment so he can have a month off,” he said.
“I’ve always said he was a stayer in the making and if he keeps improving then the Wellington Cup is our target followed by the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) if he shows us what I think he can.
“A month off now will be good for him as it takes him away from the really deep tracks and will let him mature into himself a little more.”