Racing: Sharvasti gets back the Oaks bug

Matamata trainer John Sargent is just relieved Sharvasti needs little fast work at home to keep her in racing trim.

When a mystery virus struck Sharvasti enroute to the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham last month Sargent threw his original plans for her New Zealand Oaks build-up in the trash.

Luckily for Sargent, however, his $15 chance on the TAB's fixed odds Oaks market still has time to salvage her group one hopes in a $7000 R76 event at Rotorua today.

"It's not ideal to be running her at Rotorua but we're running out of options if she's going to be ready for the Oaks," said Sargent.

"Fortunately she's not the kind of horse that needs a lot of work to keep her up to the mark," said Sargent.

"She's only had one gallop in the last 10 days - she's a very clean-winded horse."

With a little over four weeks left until the newly positioned Oaks, Sargent knows Sharvasti needs to win today or be an unlucky loser to carry on to the 2400m Trentham on March 18.

But he's confident the Montjeu half-sister to classy stable-trained group race performers Bhandara and Shastri, has the talent to override the tight Arawa Park circuit.

Sargent is also sure in-form rider Jason Waddell will have time to balance her near the rear and make his run well before the turn over the 1550m.

Sharvasti showed she had the acceleration when she needs it when making a winning run from the rear over 1600m against maiden class at Matamata on December 1.

She was also a close-up last-start seventh to Shikoba in the Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

If she turns on a repeat of those Oaks-alerts today against much weaker opposition she'll book a final lead-up in the Lowland Stakes at Trentham on March 4.

There she's likely to join Sargent's other two Oaks hopes Everswindell, the early $9 third favourite, and Ciara, who will firm in from her $25 quote if she wins at New Plymouth over 1800m on Saturday.

Sargent was rapt with Everswindell's third in the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic at Te Rapa on Saturday considering she had feet problems leading into the race.