Sharrock happy to play waiting game

16 February 2015

Allan Sharrock is likely to resist the temptation of Group One racing with the gifted Kawi until next season.

In the wake of his Gr.3 Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup triumph on Saturday, the New Plymouth trainer said the four-year-old was likely to make one more appearance before a spell.

Sharrock has the option of the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on March 7, but is more likely to opt for a softer option to close out the current campaign.

“He’ll probably have another run somewhere and then I’ll look at Melbourne in the spring after he runs in the first two races of the Triple Crown at Hastings,” he said.

Kawi has now won six of his 12 starts for a syndicate that includes the estate of Sharrock’s late father Bob and the Savabeel gelding’s Taranaki Cup victory was one of special significance.

“Dad never won one of these so this is for him,” Sharrock said.

Kawi was at short odds to win on Saturday and he gave his army of supporters an early scare when he was tardily away from the gate.

“Dad would call him a goon, but he’s got so much ability and he gave them all a start and a beating – he’s a serious horse,” Sharrock said

Kawi settled in the last three before rider Johnathon Parkes hunted him forward 600 metres from home. They were widest into the straight and held a sustained finish to sweep past Iamishwara for a comfortable win.

“He just wanted to throw his head in the air at the start and I got a bit further back than I wanted,” Parkes said.

“He was able to pick them up and won quite comfortably. He’s a super horse and weight-for-age won’t worry him.” – NZ Racing Desk.

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