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Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • July 4th, 2025 10:45 am
Lazio will contest Saturday’s Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Allan Sharrock has won two of the last four editions of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m), and the New Plymouth trainer believes Saturday’s Group One Turf Bar Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa could put Lazio on target to add to that record.
Sharrock saddled Justaskme to win the midwinter feature on his home track in 2021 and again in 2023. The 2021 edition produced a Sharrock quinella, with the runner-up position filled by London Express – the dam of last week’s $190,000 sale-topper at the National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
This year’s Sinclair Electrical and Refrigeration Opunake Cup will be run on July 19 for an increased stake of $120,000, and Sharrock has his eyes firmly on that prize with Lazio.
The lightly raced five-year-old has recorded four wins and three placings from a career spanning only eight starts. He made a big impression earlier in the season with back-to-back open handicap victories at Te Rapa on September 15 and Trentham on October 27.
Spelled after finishing fifth in the Levin Stakes (1200m) in late November, Lazio has returned to action this winter with a first-up third placing at Wanganui on May 31 and a subsequent trial win at Foxton on June 24. Notably, he is unbeaten second-up.
“The Opunake Cup is the race I’m looking at with him, provided he performs up to expectations this weekend,” Sharrock said. “Based on the way he’s worked leading into it, I can’t see any reason why he wouldn’t do that.
“He went super first-up at Wanganui and I was thrilled with him. He’s gone the right way through the few weeks since that race. He trialled nicely the other day for Kelly Myers, who made the trip down to ride him.
“Te Rapa is a track that he seems to like, which is not the case for all horses, so that’s a factor in his favour this weekend. He’s going into it in good order.”
Lazio will be ridden by apprentice jockey Ashlee Strawbridge, whose four-kilogram claim will reduce his impost to just 51.5kg.
Lazio is raced by Luigi Muollo’s Explosive Breeding Ltd, who bred the Per Incanto gelding alongside Sharrock and Paul Dombroski. Lazio is a half-brother to the four-time Group One-winning Hong Kong sprinting star Lucky Sweynesse. Their dam Madonna Mia won nine races for Sharrock including the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m).
Sharrock heads into this weekend with 48 wins to his name this season, sitting in sixth place on the national trainers’ premiership.
He will also be represented at Te Rapa on Saturday by last-start placegetter Indian Gold in the Mark Sanders Memorial (1400m), while his five-horse contingent at Otaki could also be worth following.
“There’s a maiden runner at Otaki that I’ve got a bit of time for, Ena Sharples,” Sharrock said. “She’s a nice filly who ran a good race for second on debut a few weeks ago. She worked particularly well this week.
“Confetti is another one that’s been working very nicely. We were originally pointing her towards Te Rapa, but we ended up changing tack to run her at Otaki instead. It looks a nice race for her.”
