Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock is hoping to end Darci La Bella's preparation on a high when he treks south to Trentham on Saturday.
The daughter of Darci Brahma has continued her rich vein of form in her five-year-old season, winning her last three starts, including the Group 3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1400m).
Her win tally now sits at 10 from 16 starts, and Sharrock believes she can extend it this weekend in the Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).
“She is in the same vein and has been working well, so I am pretty happy with her,” Sharrock said,
“I wouldn't rule out Robbie's (Patterson) mare (Coventina Bay). She is a genuine Group One horse.
“Hopefully with residual fitness with my mare I might have a hop on her, but she did trial well the other day.
“I expect it will be a tight contest between the two of them.”
Darci La Bella will head for a spell following her weekend assignment and Sharrock can't wait to tackle some Group One targets with her next year.
“It will be her last run for the season. She was up through the winter, so I am quite happy to call it quits,” he said.
“It would be great to win her last one (of the year), and I think she will be a genuine Group One horse in the spring. We will give her the break she deserves and let her furnish the last bit and she will be hard to best in those races last year.”
Sharrock will also line-up Ladies Man in the Rich Hill Stallions 1600 as he prepares for a tilt at the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) next month.
“The Wellington Cup is his main goal and I am just starting to screw him down slowly,” Sharrock said.
“He will be competitive on Saturday, albeit he has drawn wide (14) and he is claiming three kilos.
“On a nice, big open track he will race well, and then step him up over ground after that.”
Meanwhile, Sharrock has a chance of further stakes success at Te Rapa on Saturday in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m).
The race has been transferred to the Hamilton track following last Saturday's meeting abandonment at Awapuni, and Sharrock said both Sophmaze and Librarsi haven't taken any ill effect from the travel.
“It is just frustrating, but it will definitely be a slow track, which will suit both of my runners,” he said.
“They have both bounced out of their trip to Palmy well and have been working well. I can't split them, so it will be interesting.
“Sophmaze has been up for quite some time, so win, lose, or draw she will go straight to the paddock.
“Depending how the other filly races, we may go a bit further.”
More New Zealand horse racing news