By Duane Ranger
Craig Sharpe has already achieved a couple of notable milestones as a horse conditioner but at Cambridge Raceway last night (Thursday) he nailed his first training success after three attempts.
Although the 36-year-old has trained a Group One winner in New Zealand and has had a Group Three triumph in Australia, those victories were with his former Pukekohe training partner, Todd Macfarlane.
On Thursday the Lincoln Farms employee trained Rarangi Jewel to win the $6,500 Dunstan Feeds Handicap Trot. The driver was Sharpe’s work colleague, Andre Poutama.
“It’s a great feeling to finally have cracked a winner on my own. I saw the horse advertised and thought he would give me something to do in my lunch hour.
“It was a nice drive by Andre. I just want to thank him and my partner Sheryl who has both played a big part in the win. She feeds the gelding and does a lot of the behind-the-scenes work with him. I’m very grateful to her and Andre,” Sharpe said.
Rarangi Jewel notched up his ninth win in 152 starts in the 2700m stand. It was the 9-year-old’s third start with Sharpe after having previously been with Brent Weaver at Blenheim.
Poutama led and then trailed I Got Rhythm (Kyle Marshall) before shooting him up the passing lane to win by three quarters of a length.
The son of Earl and Black Onyx stopped the clock in 3:36.3 (mile rate 2:08.9) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 62.2 and 31.8. He was the $11.10 fifth favourite.
“He goes all right for a 9-year-old and could win a race or two more but I just enjoy working him and having one in my own name. It was a thrill to see my colours (light blue and yellow) cross the line first,” said Sharpe.
Sharpe has been with Ray Green and Lincoln Farms for the last 18 months. He worked for Todd Macfarlane for eight seasons (2008-2015) before working briefly for Lynden Park.
Sharpe and Macfarlane won 80 races from 782 starters, placed 206 times and won $809,327. They won the Group One Harness Jewels 3yo Trotting Ruby in 2012 with Cyclone U Bolt.
Sharpe and Macfarlane also nailed the Group Three Gold Coast Oaks with Splendour in 2013.
Other highlights from Thursday’s Cambridge meeting included the very impressive last to first win from the Bunty Hughes trained Runrunjimmydunn (Maurice McKendry in the last event.
He will now tackle the Sires Stakes 3yo heat at Cambridge Raceway in a fortnight.
Todd Mitchell also had a good night notching up a further two training successes with Creamee and Stunin Banner in races five and six. He drove the former while junior Andrew Drake steered the latter.
Mitchell now sits in fourth place on the national training premiership with five wins – four behind Greg and Nina Hope.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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