Racing: Sherrif is the one to beat

Roger James' highly promising Sherrif wasted no time showing his class. Photo / File

Cambridge trainer Roger James will take a walk down memory lane if his highly promising three-year-old Sherrif can live up to expectations in the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe today.

An impressive last-start winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m), Sherrif is on trial for an Australian trip with both Queensland and South Australia in the mix, though James said it is more likely he will head to the latter state.

"I'm tending to lean towards South Australia rather than Queensland," he said. "If he goes for the Queensland Derby he'd have to run in the Grand Prix beforehand and that could be a run too many.

"By going to South Australia he can go straight in the Derby over there then come home."

The Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) is at Morphettville on May 12, while the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) is not until May 26 and the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) a fortnight later.

Sherrif wasted no time showing his class when following up a trials win a couple of months ago with an impressive debut success over 1400m at Pukekohe then went down a mere head at Te Aroha over 1600m before appreciating the step up to 2000m at Awapuni. On the strength of that Manawatu Classic performance, he stands out as the horse to beat today and James is hoping for improvement in the track rating, which had come back from heavy to a slow8 on Thursday afternoon.

"I'd like to see it come back a bit more, but the High Chaparrals do handle it a bit."

James will also start Concert Hall in the feature and is looking forward to seeing how she performs in the step up from 1600m. "She's screaming to go over ground and her runs have been excellent," he said.

James has three other runners at Pukekohe today, the first being Hanger, who races in the same Brendan and Jo Lindsay colours as Sherrif.

James has opted to step Poker Face out of his grade today, deciding on the rating 75 Lone Star Pukekohe 1600 rather than the rating 65 Mount Shop 1600. "He's been carrying big weights and he'll appreciate the drop in weight," he said. Pythagoras will run in the Mount Shop 1600 and be looking to redeem himself after losing all chance last start at Te Aroha with a very slow getaway.

- NZ Racing Desk