Stratford trainer Gavin Sharrock will line up a promising pair of two-year-olds at Hawera on Tuesday where he is keen to see if they can back up some impressive trial and jump out performances of late.
Hawera will host the abandoned New Plymouth meeting from Saturday after heavy rain and surface water conspired to prevent the day going ahead.
The Sharrock-prepared pair of two-year-olds, Vibration and Madamkipyegon, will take the stage against some older maiden gallopers over 1100m in Race 3 on the programme which is likely to be raced on a Heavy 10 surface.
“They had a fair bit of heavy rain at New Plymouth so you could understand the decision they made to abandon and try and race later in the week,” Sharrock said.
“Thankfully Hawera was available as I’m keen to see how my two-year-olds take the step up to race day.
“They have both won three jump outs each while Vibration also won a trial nicely at Waverley last month so we’re quite excited about getting them out on race day.
“They are both by Proisir and showed they could handle the wet ground in their jump outs, but it is a different story on race day when the pressure is on, so it will be a good test for them.”
Sharrock believes that both horses have the ability to contest some of the early three-year-old stakes events if they can prove their credentials on Tuesday.
“Madamkipyegon is a half-sister to Misterkipchoge, an Ocean Park colt I sold to clients of Chris Waller after he had two runs for me,” he said.
“She is probably a bit more highly strung that Vibration so getting her to the races will be good for her.
“Vibration won his trial really well at Waverley and showed a fair bit of tenacity when doing it.
“If they can perform up to their form at home on Tuesday then we can have a think about races like the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m) with them as I think they can get to that level.”
While Sharrock will utilise the apprentice claims of Jim Chung on Vibration and Lily Sutherland on Madam Kipyegon, he has welcomed the return of senior rider Joe Doyle who will ride his stable star Soldier Boy in the open 1900m contest on the card.
“Joe has returned from his visit back to his homeland and I think this will be his first or second day back riding,” he said.
“Soldier Boy has been hampered by a pulled muscle which really set him back, but he has recovered now, and I think he is ready to strike form.
“He has just needed some confidence and he got that last time when he ran fourth. His trackwork has really perked up and on his best form he can be right in the finish.
“He’s a dual stakes winner who ran fourth in the New Zealand Derby (Gr.1, 2400) so you would like to think a race like this is well within his capabilities.”
