Kawi set to continue stable’s hot streak

4 December 2015

Allan Sharrock is hoping his golden run will continue for at least another week.

The New Plymouth trainer, who will run stable star Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham on Saturday, has had eight wins and six seconds from his last 25 runners.

Madonna Mia’s (NZ) (Red Clubs) Listed Wanganui Cup win last weekend gave Sharrock 14 wins from just 52 starters this term, a winning strike rate of 3.71, and more than half of his runners have finished in the first three.

“We are keeping the wolves from the door at the moment, but it will stop,” Sharrock said. ”I just hope it continues through this weekend.”

Kawi is expected to be a warm favourite for the Captain Cook. He was an impressive winner at weight-for-age in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings in August and has made good progress since his luckless run for second in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes on November 14.

“He’s super,” Sharrock said. “He worked brilliantly on Saturday morning and worked exceptionally well again this morning.

“It’s a Group One this week and he should be pretty close to his peak. His work on Saturday suggested that he has improved a touch since Tauranga.

“Trentham is a big roomy track and I just hope that takes luck out of the equation. If you look at his record, bad luck has beaten him on numerous occasions.”

Kawi was a $2 favourite at Tauranga, but was beaten a short neck after everything went against him in the running. Reese Jones had the ride at Tauranga but Leith Innes, who had the mount in the Makfi, is back on at Trentham.

Sharrock plans to have four runners at the premier meeting on Saturday with Twoznotenough and Don’t Gloat likely improvers for the Rating 85 1400m, while last-start winner Carlow will tackle the rating 85 3200m.

“Carlow was impressive at Awapuni. Not many horses get 3200m and the distance won’t worry him,” Sharrock said. – NZ Racing Desk.

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