Well-related five-year-old Lazio has already won two open handicaps in his brief career and he is a strong hope to add to his record at Hawera on Saturday.
The son of Per Incanto will step out in the Property Management Specialist @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m) ahead of a sterner test.
Due to soundness issues, Lazio has only made eight appearances, but four wins and three placings show he’s inherited a good measure of the family ability.
“He’s had knee trouble with bone chips and different things and if he had four good legs he could have been somewhere near his half-brother, but he’s still a very good horse,” trainer Allan Sharrock said.
He was referring to champion Hong Kong sprinter and four-time Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse.
Lazio will be ridden by Kelly Myers and, safely through the weekend, will back up on his home course the following Saturday.
“He needs a run before the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m), I’m pretty happy with him,” Sharrock said.
“He can’t go on top of the ground because his body won’t allow him so there’s not many other money races for him.
“He went to Otaki for an exhibition gallop on Tuesday and Kelly spun him around and he’s forward enough.”
Lazio was a last-start third at Wanganui and with a trial since, Sharrock tipped him as one of the stable’s best on Saturday.
“We’ve got a few strong chances and Dresse’ Par Joli has done nothing wrong,” he said.
“She couldn’t win at Wanganui the other day when she drew one and she (Toni Davies) rode him well and had to drop back to last.
“The leaders got away on her and she still ran third, the time before she won very well.”
Dresse’ Par Joli runs in the Steely Make Me Squealy Handicap (2100m) and as a half-sister by Tavistock to recent Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Maison Louis is a valuable commodity.
Sharrock also has Bridal Train and Tisse in the Grace Hornby @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1400m) and I Don’t and Explosive Impact in the Amanda Spice @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1400m).
“I can’t split Bridal Train and Tisse, they could possibly run one-two. They are both claiming,” he said.
Frankie Barrett partners the former with Sima Mxothwa to partner Tisse.
“Bridal Train is probably looking a better track and Tisse will cope with it better, but if Bridal Train got the outside and found a strip that was half decent then she could take some holding,” Sharrock said.
“I Don’t probably should have won last start, so she’s got be a good chance and Explosive Impact has done a lot of work.
“She’s had jump-outs and a trial and I watched her work on Thursday morning and she’s more forward than I thought, so her last win at Hawera was pretty impressive, albeit a fair while ago.”