Racing: Pretenders lining up in Waikato Guineas

Allan Sharrock says it's a matter of batting away the Derby pretenders week after week with class act Wahid.

Going into tomorrow's $50,000 Herbie Dyke Waikato Guineas, Sharrock sees Wahid at the top of the ladder waiting to be knocked off.

"With the Derby being put back for the first time the pretenders will come along every week and it's going to be a matter of staving them off."

Sharrock had not originally intended running Wahid in this race. His plan was to have a gallop between races after what turned out to be a disastrous Wellington Stakes then the Championship Stakes then the $600,000 Mercedes Derby at Ellerslie.

"He's been doing too well and I've got to get more mileage into him.

"He's licking the [feed] bowl and he needs another race."

Wahid won the Wellington Stakes, only to lose it in the judicial room because it was ruled he caused the interference to Abbey Drive, who had to be checked when finishing strongly along the inside rail.

Sharrock describes it as one of the two major disappointments in his racing career.

The other, involving the same owners, was when Mark Du Plessis mistook the winning post at Riccarton and got beaten.

Sharrock says regardless of how happy he gets with Wahid he will have a keen eye out for rapidly improving 3-year-olds heading into the Derby.

One of them is the beautifully-bred, Murray Baker-trained Zed, by Zabeel from class mare Emerald Green.

Zed easily won on debut at Hastings two weeks ago.

"Murray's horse has the breeding, but it's a long way from a Hastings maiden to Guineas class this week.

"If he wins then he just about goes favourite for the Derby."

Michael Coleman has been engaged for Wahid.

Congaline has been freshened since finishing fourth, two lengths from the winner Sculptor in the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Equally as indicative as a guide to this race was his nose second to Willie Ryan at Ellerslie on December 11.

Congaline was forced over a huge amount of extra ground in that race and did not flinch in his run to the finish.

Abbey Drive will take plenty of money after his third - promoted to second - in the Wellington Stakes two weeks ago.

He was checked when making a rail run in the closing stages and being by Zabeel from Might And Power's family he is going to be suited by the step from 1600m to 2000m.

With regular rider Grant Cooksley under suspension, the Abbey Drive ride goes to Australian jockey Scott Seamer.