Ladies Man (NZ) Steps into Group One Spotlight

Rising star Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) has followed in the footsteps of his half-sister Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas), going from the Karaka sale ring to Group One glory.

Saturday’s $450,000 Group One Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings was the seventh win of a 22-start career for Ladies Man, who was bought by trainer Allan Sharrock for $60,000 from the draft of breeder Grangewilliam Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2019. Ladies Man has now earned $523,692 in prize-money.

Ladies Man’s heroics have come a few years after Ladies First, who was purchased for only $8000 from the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale. She had 26 starts for nine wins, five placings and $513,907 in stakes, headed by the Group One Auckland Cup (3200m) in March of 2018.

The ever-improving Ladies Man has been patiently handled by Sharrock. Coming into last season with a rating in the mid-70s, he won three races as a five-year-old including the Group Three Trentham Stakes (2100m) in January. He also placed in the Auckland Cup and the Listed Marton Cup (2200m), and he finished fourth in the Group Three Wellington Cup (3200m).

The big gelding began his six-year-old season with a series of strong-finishing placings over shorter distances, including the Group Three Metric Mile (1600m) on September 23. Saturday’s Livamol was Ladies Man’s target, and he relished the step up to 2040 metres and produced a barnstorming performance.

Ridden by Ryan Elliott, he settled in midfield before advancing out wide on the track coming up to the home turn. Ladies Man swooped around the outside and chimed in at the top of the Hastings straight, and then he lengthened stride powerfully and took command. Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock) and the fast-finishing Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) gave their all to try to claw him back, but Ladies Man kept himself well out of their reach and won by three-quarters of a length.

“He got up into open company last year but he was still quite an immature five-year-old,” Sharrock said. “He did a good job, but a few things went wrong along the way. I thought we might have to wait one more year with him.

“From the moment he came into work, it was obvious that he was a very different horse this year. He’s grown into a man, and he’ll probably be better again next year. He was set for this race, and we’ll have to go over to Melbourne now, won’t we?”

Ladies Man’s performance made a favourable impression on Elliott, who was riding him for the first time.

“I’m ecstatic,” the jockey said. “I have to thank Allan Sharrock and his team, as well as Michael McNab – it was his ride originally, but he’s gone to Sydney today.

“He travelled really strongly all the way. I didn’t want to overdo it, but he tracked into it so nicely. Coming up to the turn I thought I’d have to get going, otherwise they might outsprint me. But he toughed it out really well and still had a bit under the hood.”

Saturday’s Livamol Classic produced a Karaka quinella, with runner-up Platinum Invador being a $25,000 purchase from the 2017 Festival Sale. His 46-race career has featured five wins, five seconds and six thirds, earning $867,360 – more than 34 times his purchase price.

Vendor	Grangewilliam Stud
Purchaser	Mr SA Sharrock (Taranaki)
Breeding	Zed – Just Polite
Sale	Lot 768, Karaka 2019 Book 2, $60,000
Bred by	Grangewilliam Stud Ltd