Allan Sharrock isn’t expecting first-up fireworks from Ladies Man on his home track on Saturday, with the focus on upcoming Group One targets.
The New Plymouth trainer is satisfied with his stable star’s progress ahead of his resuming run in the Paslode Open Handicap (1400m) to kick-start a campaign aimed at weight-for-age prizes.
“I’m pretty happy with him, but with the weight it’s going to be tough on him,” Sharrock said.
After apprentice Frankie Barrett’s claim, Ladies Man will still lump 62kg in his first outing for six months.
“I have to get the miles into him and he’s tracking the right way,” Sharrock said.
“He normally races well fresh and his work this week suggests he will again, but he has got a lot of weight on his back.”
Safely through Saturday, Ladies Man will have one more yet to be determined outing before the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and then on to the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), a race he won in 2023.
“He’s really going to enjoy it when he gets to those weight-for-age races,” Sharrock said.
He is bullish about the prospects of his undercard runners, with Indian Gold tipped as a leading hope in the Steel & Tube R65 (1600m).
The Ocean Park five-year-old has placed in all three of his runs away from home this preparation and Barrett’s claim will see him drop 4kg from his last-start second to 56kg.
“Obviously, I like Indian Gold and he probably could have won any of his last three runs at Te Rapa in good company,” Sharrock said.
“He’s drawn the outside (eight), but he’s a tidy horse and with the claim I would expect him to be really hard to beat.”
Indian Gold is also an acceptor in the James Hardie Handicap (2000m), but Sharrock favours the mile event for the gelding.
He is also keen on the chances of Bella Timing in the Marley R65 (1200m) and Swingit Our Way in the Matua Open (1800m).
“They’re all going well so with a bit of luck we can be all around it,” Sharrock said.
Stablemate Explosive Impact turned in a bold performance when resuming at Hawera in mid-May and has trained on well in the interim.
“She ran second first-up and this race looks easier than taking on Indian Gold, so I’ve split them,” Sharrock said.
“She’s a tidy mare and her form suggests she’ll run well again.”
Breadwinner broke through in style last time out and a similar effort would see her a major player in the United Steel MAAT (1800m).
