Racing: Distance suits Wahid

Meatloaf reckoned two out of three ain't bad.

Allan Sharrock will settle for the same score as he goes into tomorrow's group one $120,000 Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes with class act Wahid.

The positives Sharrock sees are Wahid's tendency to keep looking for the Sires distance of 1400m and the almost-certainty of a track rating bordering on firm.

The negative is that Wahid has drawn barrier No14 of the 15 runners - "out in the rubbish dump", as Sharrock puts it.

Meatloaf wouldn't be worried and Sharrock will sleep well enough tonight as he anticipates the prospect of a group one victory.

There are only two group ones for juveniles each year in New Zealand and Wahid was clearly not himself when third to Mi Jubilee in the first of them, the Ellerslie Sires Produce.

He struck a tricky wet track at his only subsequent start when Kindacross beat him at New Plymouth, and the speedy and gallant Matamata youngster looms as a real threat again.

But a close to firm track is going to greatly assist Wahid, who has looked devastating when conditions have suited this season.

Sharrock said autumn was a worrying time for trainers of topline 2-year-olds.

"You're forever looking for an excuse to turn them out in the spelling paddock, but this bloke has never given me the excuse to do that.

"In fact, I'd say his work on Tuesday morning was the best of his career."

The drying Awapuni surface and continuing fine weather are a real bonus, but there is one concern. The running rail has been moved in nearly 4m, exposing ground that has not been used since December.

That will almost certainly create a fast inside lane compared with the footing wider on the track, which copped a hammering in soft conditions on the first day of the meeting last week.

As a back runner, Wahid may need to hook out wide in the home straight, which would see him out in a slower lane. You can guarantee that rider Michael Coleman will be closely watching every one of the six races prior to the Sires to see where the winners are coming from in the field.

If the outside is significantly slower, Coleman will probably look for a passage through the field closer to the inside rail.

"Starting from out there at least he won't be in the squeeze situation in the middle of the field early, which can happen in races like these," said Sharrock.

He knows the 1400m will suit Wahid.

"He's had a really strong season in terms of racing and he should round it off the best."

Sharrock rates Kindacross and Pulcinella as the two most dangerous opponents.

"Kindacross' pedigree says he will run 1400m and Pulcinella is the only one that has won at 1400m and she carried plenty of weight [56kg]."

Trainers look for individual things for different horses. Pulcinella's trainer, Don Sellwood, is delighted to have had the three-week gap between the filly's win at Ellerslie on March 28, and Sharrock is equally pleased that Wahid's last race at New Plymouth was two weeks ago.

"All his best efforts have been with two-week gaps and we're finally back on that cycle for this race. He'll go into it very fit."

Victory on Wahid would be a good result for Coleman, who copped a three-raceday riding suspension at Paeroa on Wednesday. He is out until after the Anzac Day Avondale meeting.

Mark Walker is hoping Kindacross can use the fact that he has a huge level of conditioning behind him compared with the opposition, except for Wahid.

"Like Wahid, he's been up for a while, but it means he's very battle-hardened. If it comes down to a battle, that's what he likes and he'll be right in the mix.

"Even though he probably coped with the conditions at New Plymouth last start better than the opposition, he won well and I'm happy with him."

Walker has a top chance of taking away a major part of the stake for the $80,000 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup with Maroofity and Distinctly Secret engaged.

Maroofity is a natural leader these days and should benefit from the inside strip of new ground, which will suit the pace horses.

"What helped beat him last week was Kristov taking him on in front. If Our Fuji takes him on this time neither of them will win."

Distinctly Secret's overall form in stronger weight-for-age fields puts him in with a great chance.

"He's probably the only genuine weight-for-age horse in the field. It's fair to say he's past his best, but he's up to this class."

Sires Produce

* A track rating close to firm will be a big plus for Wahid.

* So is the 1400m, which Wahid often suggests he is looking for.

* Unbeaten Matamata filly Crepe De Chine goes into the race light in conditioning, but trainer Lance O'Sullivan says he is happy with her.