Ladies Man won last year’s Trentham group 1 weight-for-age feature with a brilliant final burst to claim La Crique by a neck and will take a similar last-start formline into the race after finishing fourth in the Tauranga Stakes three weeks ago.
"He was good at Tauranga — I gave him a pass mark for that — but more importantly he’s gone the right way since, and his work on Tuesday was very good," Sharrock said after the release of the field on Wednesday.
"It’s probably a stronger field this year, what with Waitak at the top of his form, La Crique there again and with that other very good mare Legarto as well, so it’s not going to be easy.
"In our favour is the weather they’ve had in Wellington this week. I think a bit of precipitation and with the track currently rated heavy8, that could swing things our way."
The three Waikato-trained horses identified by Sharrock dominate the TAB’s final-field market, with Waitak, chasing a group 1 hat-trick, at $3.30, Legarto $3.60 and La Crique $4.50.
Ladies Man shares the next line with another northerner, Captured By Love, at $8.50, while Provence is next quoted at $11.
Captured By Love will be ridden by Opie Bosson, who is still seeking his 100th group 1 after taking his tally to 99 on Ladies Man 12 months ago.
However, Sharrock is pleased to have engaged Rory Hutchings, who has returned from Australia for another summer stint.
"I’m very happy to have Rory on.
"We know how well he rides in these races and, after all, he’s a redhead like me," Sharrock said. — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
