Taranaki mare Sinarahma showed her brilliance when capturing the Listed Property Brokers Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Hastings on Thursday.
Punters could have been forgiven for tearing up their tickets on the mare when they were turning for home, with the daughter of Darci Brahma at the back of the field with a wall of horses ahead of her.
However, jockey Matthew Cameron kept his composure and was able to weave his way through the pack with Sinarahma showing a scintillating turn of foot in the final 100m to reel in her rivals to win by a head over Magic Incanto, with a further half-length back to No Rock No Pop in third.
“She has always been quality,” trainer Allan Sharrock said. “When you go back to that second behind Melody Belle (in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile, 1600m) after giving them 10 (lengths) at the start. If she brings that to any of her races she is competitive in any field.”
Sinarahma hadn’t placed since that outing at Trentham last year and Sharrock said they have finally got on top of some back issues that had been plaguing the mare.
“She has had back issues and I think we have worked through that with the help of our vet,” he said.
“She has been reluctant to leap from the barriers and I’d say that had something to do with her back. I think we have got that how we want it now.”
Sinarahma was initially set to be ridden by Sharrock’s apprentice Hazel Schofer, however, with the talented young rider ruled out after a spider bite, Sharrock called on his former apprentice Matthew Cameron who was able to show his experience in the mile feature.
“He thought twice about going around them but he waited and I thought it was a terrific A-grade, thinking ride,” Sharrock said.
“I am proud to have Matt on but also disappointed Hazel couldn’t do the job, but she got bitten by a white tail and she has been on antibiotics intravenously for the last three days.
“It is disappointing for Hazel because she does all the work.”
Sharrock is looking forward to tackling some more stakes targets with Sinarahma, something he didn’t think he would have the opportunity to do in the spring.
“She went to two stallions in the spring and she couldn’t get in-foal to either of them so we might reap the rewards late in the season and she might go to stud next season,” he said.
The win capped an exciting week for Sharrock’s brother Bruce, who shares in the ownership of Sinarahma, after being appointed New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s new chief executive earlier this week.
“He has got a big job ahead of him,” Sharrock said. “I wouldn’t want to do it, but he is up to the challenge, and I am proud of him for having a go.”
While Sinarahma scored in the postponed Breeders’ Stakes he is hoping stablemate Our Hail Mary can do the same in the reprogrammed Gr.3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup (2000m) at Awapuni on Friday.
“I am very comfortable with where she is,” Sharrock said. “1800m at home would have been perfect, but 2000m won’t worry her and she has won at Manawatu.” – NZ Racing Desk
