May has been a great month for Moorookyle Park's consistent Sharkbite, the regally bred son of Redoute's Choice represented by seven winners including two smart metropolitan gallopers.
Having his
first run since last spring, the Gregory McFarlane trained Clear The Beach was
impressive saluting at Rosehill on Saturday. Showing good pace to dispute the
early lead, he took a sit before taking over at the 300m and getting clear.
So much so that his trainer, who had set the lightly raced four-year-old for the Provincial Championships, may now set his sights on something even better.
"You never know, we might aim for a bit higher than that," he said, adding that he rates the gelding "a solid Saturday class horse at least."
Jockey Christian Reith has always held Clear The Beach in high esteem, noting that he has been a big green in the past - "he was quite keen in his last preparation, he is a lot more relaxed now and a lot easier to control."
"He has been his own worst enemy but he has always shown talent."
It was just the fifth start for Clear The Beach who looks to have a bright future - "I think he can get to a good level," McFarlane said.
It is a similar story for the Robbie Laing trained Jaws Of Steel was back to his best with a gutsy win at Sandown on May 10.
A horse who showed plenty of ability at two, he ran fourth in stakes company at debut before a dominant victory in a $100,000 feature at Mornington. From there he headed to Sydney to contest the Group One Champagne Stakes - finishing seventh, described by Laing as "an absolute good thing beaten."
Badly crowded and nearly falling when travelling sweetly with 300m to go, Jaws Of Life kept trying, showing plenty of heart.
Courage he again showed at Sandown, railing gamely and holding off strong late challenges in determined fashion. And he was all the more impressive taking into account that he was a very sick horse last spring - "he just wouldn't eat for weeks," Laing recalled, "it was very worrying."
Other Sharkbites showing good ability include Save Me Ned (winner of two of his first five for the Michael O'Leary stable) and recent easy South Australian maiden winner Flip de Glore.
"Sharkbite's progeny just take that little bit of time but once in form they are tough, honest performers rewarding their owners with consistent form," said Moorookyle Park's Nioka Wozny.
A particuarly handsome dark brown near black stallion, Sharkbite was a versatile galloper able to impressively win both of his juvenile starts before proving competitive with Melbourne's best three-year-olds (second to Haradasun in the Vain Stakes) and going on to win at Listed level over 1700m.
One of the great Redoute's Choice's 147 stakes winners, Sharkbite hails from an outstanding international family. A full brother to the dual Gr.3 winner Scissor Kick, he has as his grandam a half-sister to the famed matriarch Hasili, dam of the big race winners Intercontinental, Cacique, Heat Haze, Champs Elysees and Banks Hill - as well as the champion stallion Dansili.
For further information on Sharkbite and Moorookyle 's services contact Nioka Wozny on 0427 456 385 or visit online at: www.moorookylepark.com.au
