Kiwi surfer targets Olympic medal

Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock gained a special result on his home track to round out a record-breaking season for his New Plymouth-based stable.

Sharrock prepared the quinella in the $70,000 Opunake Cup (1400m) yesterday when rider Sam Weatherley guided race favourite Justaskme to victory over gallant mare London Express.

Bred and raced by Sharrock in partnership with his brother Bruce, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, and former Kiwis rugby league international and Warriors coach Tony Kemp, Justaskme overcame being hindered by the riderless Mont Ventoux early in the home straight to down his stablemate by two lengths.

The win was Sharrock’s 53rd for the season, the highest tally he has achieved in 33 years of training, and his seventh blacktype success in the last 12 months.

‘‘That was a pretty special victory, winning a black-type race on your home track,’’ Sharrock said.

‘‘I knew he was pretty spot on for the race and in the end, he was quite dominant.

‘‘He did it the hard way as he had to come around them, which not many did today and he has run to the line well.

‘‘We’ve got the Winter Cup next and the mile [1600m] there will really suit him as that is his pet distance.’’ Although a rising 6-year-old, Justaskme was only having his 11th raceday start.

‘‘He’s very lightly raced and I think he will make it as a weightfor-age performer,’’ he said.

‘‘He is a real genuine type and he was pretty effective on better tracks in his first few runs so he is not just a wet-tracker.

‘‘I’m also pleased for my brother Bruce and for ‘Kempy’, who is laid up on the couch at home with a knee infection, so I hope he didn’t do any damage cheering him home.’’ TAB bookmakers installed Justaskme as the $2.60 favourite for the Winter Cup on August 7.

Sharrock added another victory when Penelope Cruise won the last for Lisa Allpress, who registered a winning treble.