Hockey

Be intere.sting to do the figures to see if they are on the plus side, seems the team he took with him are mostly racing regularly which helps. s 

For all of Allan Sharrock’s three runners at Hastings on Saturday, potential black-type targets are looming large on the horizon – including a shot at the season-opening Group One feature that holds a special place in Sharrock’s heart. From 2014 to 2016, the New Plymouth trainer celebrated three consecutive victories in the race now known as the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) – firstly with quality mare I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), followed by back-to-back successes with Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel). This year he hopes to tackle the weight-for-age feature with emerging mare Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who has been an impressive winner of six of her 10 starts to date including a bold first-up victory at Waverley on June 4. Unbeaten in two previous starts second-up, the daughter of Darci Brahma looms as a key contender for Saturday’s Winter Feature Raceday 9 July Sprint (1200m), with Lisa Allpress booked for the ride. “Safely through this race on Saturday, I’d like to freshen this mare up for the Foxbridge (Gr.2, 1200m) at Te Rapa in August,” Sharrock said. “From there, we’ll see if we can get her back to Hastings for a crack at that first Group One. She’s really not a bad filly. “She was a pretty impressive winner first-up, and her sectionals were very good in that race too. She’s come through that run in great order, and she won a jumpout nicely last week. “She’s putting together a tidy record, winning six out of 10 so far. She doesn’t get beaten often, and I’m expecting her to be hard to beat again.” Darci La Bella is a younger half-sister to her Group Two-winning stablemate Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock), and that theme of family familiarity extends through Sharrock’s other two runners on Saturday. His runner in the Livamol Classic Tickets On Sale Now 1400 is the highly promising Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed), a half-brother to Sharrock’s Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas). A four-year-old son of Zed, Ladies Man has recorded two wins and four placings from seven starts so far. He resumed at Trentham on May 21 – his first start since September of last year – and flew home for a close second. “He got home very nicely,” Sharrock said. “I think he’s a very good horse going forward. He’s going to have a light winter, I’m not going to ask too much of him over the next few months, and his main aim could be a Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) in January.” Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), a three-quarter brother to I Do, is the clear topweight for Saturday’s Taradale Club Mile (1600m). The eight-race winner will be ridden by Jeetesh Mudhoo, whose four-kilogram claim brings his impost down to a more manageable 58 kilograms. In his most recent appearance, Justaskme was runner-up behind Amusez Moi (NZ) (Dalghar) in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1650m) at Waverley. “He was brave for that second placing in the weight-for-age race last time out,” Sharrock said. “I don’t think I’ve quite had him 100 per cent all season, but he’s just starting to look the way I’d like him to now. “His big weight left me with no choice but to put a four-kilogram claimer on him on Saturday. He’s not the easiest for an apprentice to ride, so it’ll be a matter of seeing whether he can really get him going in the straight. “We might look at the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) after this, but realistically retirement is probably just around the corner. There’s not a lot else you can do with a horse like him, who always gets such big weights in these handicaps through the winter.” Sharrock also has a talented team of six entered for New Plymouth on Friday, welcoming racing back to his home track after several months of renovations following multiple abandonments in February. The well-related Tavi Ann (NZ) (Tavistock) and Fleming (NZ) (Per Incanto) are interesting first-starters, while talented filly Catsacharmer (NZ) (Charm Spirit) – an impressive winner of two races around this time last year – is set to make her first start in more than six months. View the full article

Course specialist Cleverconversation (NZ) (Thewayyouare) will take another step at Ruakaka on Saturday toward his season’s goal on a return trip to the Far North later this month. The well-related son of Thewayyouare will step out in the Northpine Waipu Cup – ITM/GIB Sprinters’ Winter Championship Qualifying Race (1400m) ahead of the $60,000 series final on July 16. The Winter Championships initiative is the brainchild of the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Waikato Racing Club and Whangarei Racing Club and, much to the delight of Cleverconversation’s connections, Ruakaka is hosting the inaugural series. The Michael Farmer-trained six-year-old has made five appearances on the Northland track for three victories and a couple of minor placings. The gelding’s most recent start at Ruakaka was full of merit as he began awkwardly in the 1400m open handicap before finishing well for third. His cause also wasn’t helped when rider Kozzi Asano dropped his right rein in the closing stages. “He’s sweet as and going really well, he’s trained on nicely. He’s in the Winter Championships and that’s what we’ve been aiming for,” Farmer said. “He loves the track and grows another leg up there. There’s no particular reason for that, but he has fully matured now and things have just clicked at the right time for us.” Cleverconversation has been in Farmer’s care from the outset, although he did transfer to Chris Gibbs’ Ruakaka stable last year to reduce travelling time and posted a brace of wins and a placing from three runs on the course. He returned to Farmer’s yard to continue his rich run of form with success in the Thames Cup (1600m) earlier this year. “We sent him to Chris for the Ruakaka races before he came back,” the Te Aroha-based trainer said. “We’ve been patient with the horse and waited for him to grow into himself. He’s ready to go again on Saturday and Kozzi wanted to stay on him so he’s still there.” Cleverconversation was bred by Windsor Park Stud and hails from one of the Cambridge farm’s most successful families. It includes Group One winners Golden Sword (NZ) (Kaapstad) and Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice) and multiple Group Two winner Falkirk, who stood at Windsor Park before his passing in 2020. He sired winners in excess of $20 million, including Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner and $2 million earner Fay Fay. Cleverconversation will be accompanied to Ruakaka by stablemate Tellmesomethingboy (NZ) (Showcasing), who will run in the Croft Poles Handicap (1200m) but not by design as a start in the Tanalised Mile Handicap (1600m) had been the first choice. “Unfortunately, he didn’t get in the mile so I won’t be doing much with him between now and Saturday to keep him fresh,” Farmer said. “I can’t fault him, he’s working really well and he will get over more ground.” Tellmesomethingboy, who broke his maiden over 1550m, has had one run back from a spell and while he is expected to give a decent account of himself, he will be better suited to a future step up in trip. Farmer is currently working a team of six as well as fulfilling two other roles within the industry. “I’ve got a Permit to Train and I do a few pre-trainers and do a lot of breaking in for Simon Rees and others I pick up,” he said. The Morrinsville-based Rees prepared Mister Roquette (NZ) (London Bridge) to win at Rotorua last Sunday and also trains the Sydenham Hurdle (3100m) winner and Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) placegetter Laekeeper (NZ) (Keeper). View the full article

What Murray Bridge Races Where Murray Bridge Racing Club – 342 Brinkley Rd, Murray Bridge South SA 5253 When Saturday, July 2, 2022 First Race 10:58am ACST Visit Ladbrokes Racing returns to the Murray Bridge Racing Club on Saturday afternoon for a bumper 10-race card. With plenty of rain around the area, we are set to be racing on a Soft 6, whilst the rail sticks to the true position, meaning if you can handle the conditions on the weekend, you will get your chance if good enough. The day of racing gets underway at 10:58am ACST. Best Bet at Murray Bridge: Karacasu Having gone down by two lengths to the progressive Passive Aggressive in the A.R. Creswick Stakes last time out, Karacasu looks a class above his rivals in this 3YO Plate. There may be no prizes for tipping $1.75 shots, but this three-year-old gelding has been placed twice at Group 3 level and has always been touted as a sprinter with above-average ability. With plenty of speed accepted in this, Jake Toeroek will have this bloke settled in the second half of the field. However, armed with a strong turn of foot and a bit of class on his side, Karacasu should be giving his rivals windburn in this. Moral. Best Bet Race 6 – #1 Karacasu (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Richard & Chantelle Jolly | J: Jake Toeroek (58.5kg) $1.75 with Unibet Next Best at Murray Bridge: Set To Prophet Considering he won with plenty in hand at Donald last time out, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Set To Prophet looks well placed in this BM68 affair. The Extreme Choice gelding managed to stalk the speed throughout on that day and quickly pounced on the lead early in the home straight. Despite being left in front a long way out, the chestnut had a fair bit on his rivals at Donald, and we anticipate something similar on Saturday. From barrier eight, look for the in-form Todd Pannell to have this bloke settled in second half of the field, just like the horse did at Pakenham when winning three starts back. A drying track will help his chances, but winning on a Soft 5 at Donald showed he should handle these conditions. Set To Prophet’s turn of foot is the best in the race, so we are more than happy to load into the $4.40 available with online betting sites. Next Best Race 9 – #10 Set To Prophet (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Kayla Crowther (58.5kg) $4.40 with Neds Best Value at Murray Bridge: Canidae The John Hickmott & Carrina Riggs-trained Canidae has been racing in fine form this campaign and looks ready to break through for a ninth win at start 74. The veteran has one win this preparation to go alongside five minor placings, suggesting he will go close in a race like this. Despite holding a 14: 0-2-3 record at Murray Bridge, the six-year-old gelding produced a barnstorming finish when finishing third here on June 18, beaten a neck in the end. If we get any more rain in the lead up to Saturday, it should suit this guy perfectly. Canidae showed a strong turn of foot last time out, so the $10 with PlayUp looks a great price. Best Value Race 4 – #7 Canidae (4) 6yo Gelding | T: John Hickmott & Carrina Riggs | J: Jeffrey Maund (58kg) $10 with PlayUp Saturday quaddie tips for Murray Bridge Murray Bridge quadrella selections Saturday, July 2, 2022 2-9-10-12 1-3-5-11 7-10 6-7-12-13 Investment: $128 for 100% More horse racing tips View the full article