Ladies Man on target for Group Ones

Trainer Allan Sharrock couldn’t be any happier with his Group One winner Ladies Man at this stage of his preparation, but admits he faces a near impossible task at Te Rapa on Sunday.

With a rating of 110, the eight-year-old gelding is the fourth highest rated horse in the country, and has accordingly been lumbered with 66kg in Sunday’s VCE – Vision Complete Earthworks/Stronger Together 1600.

With the aid of apprentice jockey Ashlee Strawbridge’s four-kilogram claim, his impost has been brought down to 62kg, within half-a-kilogram of multiple Group One winner and former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart, while the remainder of the field will carry 54kg.

Sharrock is realistic about his gelding’s chances under that weight, but said it is an important lead-in run for the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at the track later this month.

“He can’t win with that weight. It is a conditioning run for the Group One in a fortnight,” he said.

“With Ashlee’s claim, he gets back to 62kg. She is a hardworking girl that seems to do a good job.”

Sharrock is excited about the son of Zed’s prospects over the spring and is hoping to add another feature scalp to his record.

“I don’t think I have had him as sound as he is at the moment, so we are pretty happy with the way we are tracking,” he said.

A day prior, Sharrock will have home ground advantage when he lines up a quintet of runners at New Plymouth.

He is particularly excited about the prospects of debutant King Jakkal in the Wash Squad Sprint (990m).

“He has won both of his trials,” Sharrock said. “He is not a big horse, but he is a competitor – he is aggressive. Kelly (Myers) is keen to ride him, he has drawn a good marble (4), so we are pretty hopeful.”

Sharrock will have a two-pronged attack in the Brandlab (1600m), courtesy of Tisse and Indian Gold, and he said the pair are evenly matched.

“There is nothing between them, they are two progressive horses,” he said. “I would probably lean towards Indian Gold, who can handle the wet conditions better than the other horse, but they will both be competitive.”

Sharrock will also be represented by Swingit Our Way and I Don’t in the Kiwi Butcher (2000m) and Searton Park (1400m) respectively.

“Swingit Our Way is always competitive,” he said. “She comes in with a light weight (54kg) with a good rider (Samantha Collett) and is probably a place chance.

“I Don’t is working really well and I expect her to race well.”