Sharrock pair set for swansongs
Closely related mares Sinarahma and Our Hail Mary may be signing off on their racing careers today.
Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock said both Sinarahma, who contests the Group II Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, and Our Hail Mary, due to run in an open 2060m handicap at Wanganui, could be headed to the breeding paddock after they race.
Sinarahma, a daughter of Sharrock’s multiple Group I-winning mare Shez Sinsational, has been a reliable mare, winning the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) twice and adding the Group III Cuddle Stakes (1600m) for good measure this season.
‘‘It will probably be her last run and she’ll be off to the broodmare paddock next year. She’s done a bonny job for us,’’ the New Plymouth trainer said.
At her last start Sinarahma was a close second to Charms Star in the Group III Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m), and she has trained well since, but Sharrock said she had a tough task at weight-for-age to beat Two Illicit, a Group I winner who finished third in the Group I Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) two weeks ago.
‘‘Our mare’s continued to work very well. I’m very, very happy with her,’’ Sharrock said.
‘‘But on paper we can’t beat Two Illicit. She’s got to have bad luck and we’ve got to have good luck.’’
Our Hail Mary has also put together a great resume, winning eight of her 24 starts, including last year’s Group III Trentham Stakes (2100m) and this year’s Listed Marton Cup (2200m).
However, since her Marton Cup victory she’s raced four times and finished no closer than fifth, which was where she finished in an open 2100m handicap in the hands of Leith Innes at Te Rapa on April 16.
‘‘If she runs anything like she did at Te Rapa she’ll probably be retired and go to stud as well,’’ Sharrock said.
‘‘She doesn’t seem to have the same enthusiasm. Leith [Innes, jockey] said that at the 700m she was going to win by three lengths, and 200m later she was battling for fourth position.’’
Sharrock said he hoped Our Hail Mary, whose dam Repenting is a full sister to Shez Sinsational, could return to form at Whanganui but that she didn’t owe her connections anything more.
‘‘It’s a bit disappointing, but that’s horses. She’s a six-year-old mare and she’s probably looking for a boyfriend,’’ he said.
Sharrock will have a strong team at Whanganui, with Our Hail Mary being joined by Tavattack, Justaskme, and Justfixit Wuldya.
Tavattack has improved a great deal as the 2021-22 season has progressed. He has won his last two races and should have a very good chance of making it three in a rating 74 event over 1600m.