Sharrock sold on savabeel

Allan Sharrock has another excellent reason to sing the praises of Savabeel. The New Plymouth horseman has the WS stallion’s latest Group One winner – Makfi Challenge Stakes hero Kawi – in his care, as well as another rising star by the champion sire.

The five-year-old Bishopbriggs has been a big mover through the winter and at Wanganui on Saturday he took another step forward. He completed a hat-trick and in doing so took his record to four wins from seven starts.

“He’s going to the paddock now, he’s got enough rating points and I would love to try and win an Opunake Cup or a Winter Cup with him and I don’t want to be far off the minimum.,” Sharrock said. “It’s all about next year with him – he’s a very, very good horse. I wish I had a stable full of Savabeels.”

Meanwhile, the Taranaki trainer has confirmed that Leith Innes will keep the ride on Kawi in the Gr 1 Windsor Park Plate. He has made the difficult call to regular rider Johnathon Parkes, who was suspended for the Makfi, to inform him of his decision.

“I rang Parksie yesterday to tell him that Leith would be staying on the horse and he took it like an absolute gentleman,” Sharrock said. “I had been deliberating for four days – it was a terrible decision to have to make, but Leith won a Group One on the horse and you couldn’t take him off after that.”