20 May 2019 | Paul Courts
NEXT month’s Allwood Stud SA Sales Classic is the upcoming target for talented freshman Hesashark.
Discussing his plans following the two-year-old’s victory in tonight’s Southern Cross Consolation at Port Pirie, trainer Dale Afford revealed Hesashark will tackle heats of the series in a fortnight.
Should all go according to plan, the gelding will then make his way into the Group One Final on June 8.
“He will only have another couple of starts beginning with the Allwood heats and hopefully the Final,” Afford said. “After that he will go for a good break.
“He’s already done a top job from just seven starts and with a bit of luck that will continue for another few weeks yet.”
With Afford holding the reins during his latest win Hesashark was caught three-wide early before being sent forward to test the leader, Bonnie Beach, from the ‘death seat’.
Adopting ‘catch me if you can’ tactics leaving the back straight, Afford outdrove his rivals as he reined Hesashark to a 1:56.9 win over Whats Stanley Got and Nevada Yankee.
“He went really well,” Afford said. “He put in a few rough strides which meant it took longer to get around to the breeze than i wanted.
“He dug deep up the straight for a very pleasing win.”
Hesashark’s success was the second leg of a double for Afford who captured a Southern Cross Final with Shesashark earlier in the evening.
After being sent forward from barrier three Shesashark gained the run of the race behind the leader and defending champion Bubbles And Cheese.
Angled away from the pegs at the top of the home straight, Shesashark sprinted to a seven-and-a-half metre win from Bubbles And Cheese, with Modern Zodiac seven metres away third.
“That was fantastic,” Afford said. “She finished second behind Bubbles And Cheese in last season’s Final so it was good to be able to reverse the result this year.”
By Shadyshark Hanover – which also sired Hesashark – the three-year-old rated 1:59.8 over 2050 metres to take her record to seven wins and eight placings from 20 starts for earnings of $59,08.
“That will see her out for the season,” Afford said. “She will enjoy a good break of about six weeks now.”
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