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Allan Sharrock isn’t full of confidence about Madonna Mia’s future.
The Taranaki trainer knows he will be working overtime in the hunt for suitable races for the mare, who posted her ninth career victory on Saturday when she proved far superior to her open staying rivals at Hastings.
“She’s going out for three weeks,” said Sharrock, who part-owns the daughter of Red Clubs.“She’s right at the top of the handicap now and she’ll struggle at the top level at weight-for-age so she’s going to be very hard to place.
“We may try and market her as a broodmare or we could get her in foal in the spring and try and find suitable races – she’s not a big mare so it will be difficult.”The winner of the Listed Wanganui Cup last spring, Madonna Mia set up a winning double for Sharrock at the Hawke’s Bay meeting with Darci Mac successful in a competitive Rating 75 event while Bishopbriggs was placed at Te Rapa.
“Darci Mac holds a nomination for the Winter Cup and he’s snapping at the heels of Bishopbriggs ability wise,” Sharrock said.“I haven’t been to Riccarton for 12 years, but it’s looking like I’ll get a trip away this time.”
Darci Mac has won four races and has only finished out of the money on four occasions.“He’s done all his racing on Saturdays and he hasn’t let us down,” Sharrock said.
Neither has fellow Gr.3 eStar Winter Cup contender Bishopbriggs, who got caught in the slowest part of the track at Te Rapa when third behind Leeds, another Riccarton hopeful.“Going forward, I thought it was a pretty good run,” Sharrock said.