Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock is hoping to end Darci La Bella’s preparation on a high when he treks south to Trentham on Saturday.

The daughter of Darci Brahma has continued her rich vein of form in her five-year-old season, winning her last three starts, including the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

Her win tally now sits at 10 from 16 starts, and Sharrock believes she can extend it this weekend in the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

“She is in the same vein and has been working well, so I am pretty happy with her,” Sharrock said,

“I wouldn’t rule out Robbie’s (Patterson) mare (Coventina Bay). She is a genuine Group One horse.

“Hopefully with residual fitness with my mare I might have a hop on her, but she did trial well the other day.

“I expect it will be a tight contest between the two of them.”

Darci La Bella will head for a spell following her weekend assignment and Sharrock can’t wait to tackle some Group One targets with her next year.

“It will be her last run for the season. She was up through the winter, so I am quite happy to call it quits,” he said.

“It would be great to win her last one (of the year), and I think she will be a genuine Group One horse in the spring. We will give her the break she deserves and let her furnish the last bit and she will be hard to beat in those races next year.”

-NZ Racing Desk