Despite solid performances in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, trainer Allan Sharrock’s trio of Butler, Darci La Bella and Tavi Mac are unlikely to head to Hastings next month.
The Taranaki gallopers hold nominations for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, but their trainer believes they are better placed elsewhere.
Sharrock was in awe of Imperatriz after her 5-3/4 length victory over Butler in the Foxbridge Plate, with stablemate Darci La Bella a further neck back in fourth, while Tavi Mac finished sixth.
“They all went super but I think she (Imperatriz) breathes different air to my ones. She is a pretty smart horse,” Sharrock said.
“I am proud of my three, they all ran up to expectation.
“Butler tried hard, Darci La Bella was huge from where she was in the field, and Frodo (Tavic Mac) probably blew out in his run, but he still ran sixth.”
Sharrock is now leaning towards bypassing what is shaping to be a competitive Tarzino Trophy on September 10.
“With the likes of Imperatriz and La Crique it is a fait accompli, so the Tarzino is doubtful,” he said.
With the Tarzino Trophy now out of the equation, Darci La Bella is likely to contest the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on October 8, while a trip to Rotorua to target the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Arawa Park is in the offing for Butler and Tavic Mac.
“We will put Darci La Bella aside for a week and she will go to the fillies and mares race at Hawera,” Sharrock said.
“I don’t know what I will do with Butler and Frodo, but there is the weight-for-age sprint (Sweynesse Stakes) at Rotorua that Tavi Mac won last year. We will just see what happens.”
Meanwhile, closer to home at Hawera on Sunday, Sharrock celebrated a winning double courtesy of Cherry Rose and Aricina.
On the back of her previous two runner-up results, punters backed Cherry Rose into $1.70 favouritism in the Lockwood Homes Taranaki (1200m), and she duly delivered, with stable apprentice jockey Amless Bohorun riding her out to 3-1/4 length victory.
“She is a mare that is probably looking for 1400m or further,” Sharrock said.
“I just thought that race in trying conditions was like 1300m and he (Bohorun) rode her super, I was really pleased.
“I think she is going to develop into a nice mare. I would say I will try and win a $30,000 race with her for the boys and then park her up until next autumn.”
Sharrock was equally full of praise for Bohorun’s winning ride on Aricina in the Heather D Yaxley Martinez (1600m).
“I thought he tactically rode a nice race on the mare,” he said.
“She is a talented mare who has had issues throughout her career, but we have her coming somewhere near right.
“She will probably head to the Interprovincial in a fortnight.”