Trentham to host Hastings feature
plans in light of Saturday’s abandonment.
Fortunately, the TAB has abandoned all Kawi triple crown bets and punters can collect their refunds from Monday once official word is through to the TAB notifying the changes to dates and venue.
‘‘He’ll run in the Windsor Park Plate, but I’m not going to sacrifice my horse by running him in the Livamol Classic. I’m not happy, the whole thing is a disgrace,’’ Sharrock fumed.
Sharrock is incensed over the whole shambles around the abandonment and revised plans announced by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Hawke’s Bay Racing.
In a statement issued on Sunday NZTR and Hawke’s Bay Racing say the least disruptive option is to proceed with the Livamol Classic on its original date, October 3 over 2040m.
‘‘Both NZTR and the club are absolutely committed to ensuring the Windsor Park Plate is run and as such the race will be run at the Wellington Racing Club meeting at Trentham on October 24,’’ the statement read.
‘‘New nominations will be called for and will close with the NRB at 12 noon on Tuesday, October 20. As a result the Group III Thompson Handicap (1600m) will not be conducted.
‘‘As previously announced the Group III Gold Trail Stakes will be run at Hawke’s Bay on Saturday, October 3.’’
The Group II Hawke’s Bay Guineas is also scheduled to be run that day.
‘‘The ramifications for me and my horse are huge,’’ Sharrock said. ‘‘We are made to look like amateurs in the New Zealand racing industry when situations like this arise time after time.
‘‘It’s time something was done to remedy problems in our industry and it starts at the top and I know a lot of my colleagues feel the same.
‘‘I could take my horse to Australia but what I don’t want to do is have a knee jerk reaction to what has happened because I’ve got to do what’s best for the horse.’’
With triple crown ambitions gone, Sharrock will now concentrate on a Group I treble starting with the Windsor Park Plate, then Captain Cook Stakes and Zabeel Classic. All going well he will tackle the Australian Cup in the autumn.
Meanwhile, New Zealand racing’s loss will be Australia’s gain with Murray Baker almost certain that his Group I winner, Turn Me Loose, will go directly to Melbourne in the wake of Hawke’s Bay Racing’s revised schedule.
‘‘It’s not 100 per cent confirmed but he will probably go straight to Aussie now,’’ Baker said.