Improved track conditions will present Almakeitgood with a gilt-edged opportunity to open her winning account at New Plymouth on Thursday. 

The Ardrossan youngster is among a host of runners for local trainer Allan Sharrock, who labelled the Grangewilliam Stud Maiden (1200m) contender as one of his leading chances. 

To be ridden by Craig Grylls from a handy gate (four), Almakeitgood was placed in both of her spring outings, finishing third on debut at Wanganui and then ran second at Trentham. 

“I’d like to think she can win, she goes pretty well and doesn’t like wet ground,” said Sharrock, who also shares in the ownership group. 

“Both of her runs were on heavy tracks and she’s a really nice filly who is getting better and better all the time.” 

She is from a family with two-year-old form as her dam Cortado was a winner who also placed in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) while Almakeitgood’s brother Maracatu was a juvenile winner last season for Te Akau. 

Sharrock is also a part-owner of Borninastorm, a five-year-old daughter of Bullbars who is expected to make an impact on debut in the McDonald Real Estate Maiden (1200m). 

“She took a while to lasso out of the paddock and she’s jumped out well, I like her a bit,” he said. 

“She’s had no issues, a mate of mine (Paul Foreman) and myself bred her and she went shin sore probably four times. 

“Because we owned her, we just kept putting her out and playing around with her.” 

Borninastorm will be champion jockey Lisa Allpress’ sole ride at the meeting to mark her comeback from injury. 

Stablemates Librero and I Don’t will give Sharrock a strong hand in the Revital Fertilisers Handicap (1400m) with Lily Sutherland and Harry Grace their respective jockeys. 

“Librero has to race well, the Eulogy Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) is her aim otherwise she’ll go out until the autumn,” Sharrock said. 

“I Don’t has been working like she can win so it will be interesting to see how see goes.” 

Meanwhile, top-class performer Ladies Man will have blinkers on when he takes aim at Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham. 

“I think now is the time to put them on at a mile, they should run along at a true speed and we’ve got Opie Bosson on, so that’s a big plus,” he said. 

“He’ll be heading to the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m).” 

Ladies Man was a fast-finishing runner-up two runs back at Tauranga before he returned there to finish a luckless fourth in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m).