Promising two-year-old Ka Ron was unfortunate not to have made the perfect start to his career and will have the opportunity on Boxing Day to make amends.
The Allan Sharrock-trained youngster was narrowly beaten on debut and will bid to go one better in the SkyCity 2YO (1100m) at Ellerslie and in the process book a return for a far more lucrative prize at northern headquarters.
Ka Ron currently sits in 15th spot in order of entry to the Karaka Millions (1200m) to be run for $1 million purse on January 24.
“He should probably have won first-up at Otaki, he was green and only just got beaten,” Sharrock said.
“He’s one of those sleepers and just keeps getting better and better, other than Johno Benner’s horse (De Armas) there’s no stand-out for the Millions I don’t think.
“He’s quite a dude, very laid back and we snipped him out of Book One and his half-brother by Grunt (The All Out) won his first two starts in Hong Kong.”
By Hello Youmzain, Ka Ron was purchased from Cambridge Stud’s draft at Karaka for $40,000 and is out of the Savabeel mare Sistabeel who won four times up to 1200m.
Ka Ron will be accompanied north by quality mare Loch In Ora, who returns from injury in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m).
“She is a good horse and it’s a nice kick-off point for her,” Sharrock said.
“She got black type last prep and then cracked a canon bone and that’s why she’s had such a break between races.”
The Pierro six-year-old has won five of her 10 starts and finished third in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) and hasn’t run since fifth in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) in February.
“She’s done plenty of work and I expect her race really, really well up there,” Sharrock said.
He will also have three strong chances at Otaki on Friday with Bridal Train in the Otaki Tyre Repairs Handicap (1600m), Belle Tribute resumes in the Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1400m) and Tullamore Dew in the fastinternet.nz Handicap (1200m).
“I think Bridal Train will give them all they want off the minimum (54kg) in the Open, its not normally something I do but I think it’s the right race for her,” Sharrock said.
“She’ll end up in the Taranaki Cup or the Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (Listed, 1600m).
“Bella Tribute is kicking off, and she has had enough jump-outs to be competitive, she’s got a bit of quality.”
Successful in three of her nine starts she is a half-sister by Contributor to Sharrock’s multiple Group winners Tavi Mac and Darci La Bella.
Tullamore Dew will be back on track following a break after the Darci Brahma mare was a smart debut winner at Hawera in the autumn.
“It’s my favourite scotch, I wouldn’t waste the name on a slow horse. She’s a good mare and no surprise she won first time out,” Sharrock said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
