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Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock’s upcoming top-flight prospects can take turns for the better across two venues this weekend.
Ladies Man will resume at New Plymouth on Saturday in his first step toward the defence of his Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) title while Islington Lass, who runs at Te Rapa on Sunday, is also headed toward the weight-for-age feature.
While he will be racing over a distance short of his best, Ladies Man is forward to return to action in the Seaton Park Handicap (1400m) and will benefit from Ayush Mudhoo's 4kg claim.
"He's going really well, I just had a hiccup with his feet earlier in the season," Sharrock said.
"He may go into the Livamol with two runs and not three, he's a pretty good horse and I could still pinch one more week before at Matamata or Hawera depending on where I think he is.
"I am quite excited, in the last two weeks he's picked up nicely and had a jump-out at Waverley last week and won that and he had a quiet one the week before at Hawera."
Islington Lass will be second-up in the Waitoa Free Range Chicken Mile (1600m) with Triston Moodley to claim 3kg off the talented daughter of Proisir.
"Her preparation has gone perfectly and she looks a million dollars, she'll be competitive on Sunday," Sharrock said.
"I'll put the blinkers back on her and she's a tidy mare, but whether she's up to his (Ladies Man) class when they're both 100 percent we'll see, but I'd favour the boy.
"I'll dodge the Arrowfield (Gr.1, 1600m) and run her the day before at Te Rapa over 1600m with Ladies Man as it saves the six-hour float ride to Hastings, we can shoot up to Te Rapa and be back the same day."
Meanwhile, stable favourite Justaskme will take aim at Saturday's Brandlab Open (1800m) at New Plymouth following a course and distance victory last time out with Rihaan Goyaram to take the reins again.
"The old boy will give Diamond Jak all he wants on a heavy track, he's going pretty well," Sharrock said.
The nine-year-old has won 13 of his 48 starts, including the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) and four at Listed level with two successes in the Opunake Cup (1400m) and one apiece in the AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and the Rangitikei Gold Cup (1550m).
Justaskme also has a runner-up finish in the Livamol to his credit but is unlikely to make an appearance at this year's carnival.
"I may back him up at Wanganui in the Metric Mile (Gr.3, 1600m), there's rain forecast next week and I just don't think it's going to get wet enough at the Bay for him," Sharrock said.
