Exciting two-year-old Carbonados did exactly what his connections thought he could when he bolted in by five lengths on debut at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Trainer Allan Sharrock had been galloping the son of Belardo with open class performers Butler and Sumi, where he more than held his own, leading him to start a red hot $1.90 favourite.
Punters had no cause for concern throughout the 1200m contest as apprentice rider Amless Bohorun did everything right as he positioned his mount in behind the pace before angling off the fence to lodge a challenge on the home bend.
Carbonados strode to the lead and never looked in danger as he cleared out from Chantilly Lace who shaded another debutant in Charm Zafarm for the runner-up position.
Sharrock was pleased to see his charge live up to his private reputation.
“He’s always been a little bit of quality and won a trial on good ground early on where he beat home Tulsi, who has since been Group One placed, so we thought he could gallop a bit,” Sharrock said.
“He has been working up with Sumi and Butler and has been right there with them, which is outstanding for a baby.
“I thought Amless did a good job as there was a bit of pressure on him, so all in all it was a very nice result.”
Sharrock will now look towards a black-type target with his charge, who has had plenty of offshore interest reignited in him following the victory.
“We thought we had him sold to Hong Kong after his trial win, but it didn’t eventuate,” he said.
“The phone has been going again after they saw what he did, so we will have to see what happens with that.
“When you know they handle this winter footing you want to get to the better races so I think we might go to the Castletown Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Wanganui in three weeks with him.”
Sharrock was also pleased with the performances of two of his other team members with class winter performer Justaskme finishing second under 59kgs in an open 1400m contest while promising mare Sumi added valuable black-type to her name when running third in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m).
“I thought Justaskme was outstanding carrying a big weight,” he said.
“I will back him up at Awapuni next weekend and he will be hard to beat with the blinkers going back on.
“I wasn’t sure if Sumi would handle that track at Rotorua (Heavy 10), so she was pretty brave running third.
“She picked up some very valuable black-type so we can’t ask for much more.”
Bred by David Paykel, Carbonados was purchased for $30,000 by Sharrock out of the Haunui Farm draft during the National Yearling Sale Book 2 session at Karaka in 2022.
Sharrock is also looking forward to an upcoming offshore break where he will meet up with partner Emma Davies in the United States, after she spends time with family in the UK.
Video: It’s one way traffic as Carbonados wins at New Plymouth
