3 minute read

Weight of expectation wasn’t a burden for Hover at Trentham where he again played the lead role without fault and much to the relief of one fearless punter.

The juvenile was a runaway winner on the course last month and while his victory margin in Saturday’s Mills Reef Winery 2YO wasn’t as extravagant, the manner in which it was achieved was impressive.

The subject of a $50,000 win bet, Hover was forced to cover extra ground from a wide gate and he lengthened stride powerfully under Hayden Tinsley in the closing 150 metres to earn himself a crack at late season black type honours.

Trainer Allan Sharrock said the chestnut was likely to head toward the Listed Castletown Stakes at Wanganui on May 30 before a break.

“He can have a jump-out before that and he’s a tidy horse. He won professionally and we dropped him back to 1000 metres and got away with it, he’s looking for more ground.”

He also has the Listed Wanganui Guineas in mind as a likely early three-year-old target for Hover.

The gelding is raced by Taranaki brothers Noel and Ron Stanley, who have previously enjoyed Group One success with the Sharrock-trained trio of Grout, Wahid and Woburn.

“They’ve been my longest standing clients and we’ve had a terrific run together,” Sharrock said.

Hover completed a winning double for the stable following the opening race success of Darci Mac, who is also part-owned by the Stanleys, in the Hiremaster Maiden.

Darci Mac was ridden by stable apprentice Dylan Mo, who joined Sharrock earlier this year after riding four winners in South Africa.

The Hong Kong rider doubled his New Zealand career tally at Trentham following his first victory at Wanganui last Thursday aboard the John Wheeler-trained Mendoza.