Ladies First resumes for Sharrock

Allan Sharrock’s main focus today will understandably be on Kawi at Ellerslie but he will also have much more than a passing interest in events closer to home.

The Taranaki trainer will bid for a seventh Group One victory with his stable star in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes.

He also has a strong team engaged at Hawera.

Among Sharrock’s leading lights at the Egmont meeting are Absolutely Me (Dr Jack Gray Painters Maiden), Ladies First (Dairy Nutrition Specialists 1400) and Twoznotenough (Placemakers Open).

A half-sister to Glamour Puss and Vision And Power, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Absolutely Me has a win and three placings from her five starts.

Sharrock said punters should disregard her most recent failure at Te Rapa last month.

‘‘She just got too far back and she had no hope,’’ he said.

‘‘I like her, she’s worked well since and she’s a good chance.’’

Ladies First won three of her four starts last winter and is forward enough to give a bold first-up account.

‘‘I would have liked to have given her one more jump-out but we’re targeting the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes so I said to the owners that we need to get a rattle on,’’ Sharrock said.

‘‘I have no doubt, she’ll be competitive.’’

The genuine Twoznotenough was runner-up two runs back on her home track before she finished a commendable fourth in the Taranaki Cup.

‘‘She’s been very good and we’re claiming on Saturday – that’s the only chance we’ve got to beat Dummy,’’ Sharrock said.

He was referring to the Kevin Myers-trained pair of Overtheriver and Scapolo.