For all of Allan Sharrock’s three runners at Hastings on Saturday, potential black-type targets are looming large on the horizon – including a shot at the season-opening Group One feature that holds a special place in Sharrock’s heart.

From 2014 to 2016, the New Plymouth trainer celebrated three consecutive victories in the race now known as the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) – firstly with quality mare I Do, followed by back-to-back successes with Kawi.

This year he hopes to tackle the weight-for-age feature with emerging mare Darci La Bella, who has been an impressive winner of six of her 10 starts to date including a bold first-up victory at Waverley on June 4.

Unbeaten in two previous starts second-up, the daughter of Darci Brahma looms as a key contender for Saturday’s Winter Feature Raceday 9 July Sprint (1200m), with Lisa Allpress booked for the ride.

“Safely through this race on Saturday, I’d like to freshen this mare up for the Foxbridge (Gr.2, 1200m) at Te Rapa in August,” Sharrock said. “From there, we’ll see if we can get her back to Hastings for a crack at that first Group One. She’s really not a bad filly.

“She was a pretty impressive winner first-up, and her sectionals were very good in that race too. She’s come through that run in great order, and she won a jumpout nicely last week.

“She’s putting together a tidy record, winning six out of 10 so far. She doesn’t get beaten often, and I’m expecting her to be hard to beat again.”

Darci La Bella is a younger half-sister to her Group Two-winning stablemate Tavi Mac

-NZ Racing Desk