“Winning races isn’t everything, but wanting to is.
139 races run under rules, €133,802.5 in prizemoney accrued, and even a twitter fan page has been set-up for good measure. The Andrew Slattery trained Sharjah has become one of the most popular thoroughbreds presently running in Ireland. He was originally purchased by the trainers’ brother Willie, as a Yearling for the breeze-up sale. Sharjah is the authentic rags to riches story that keeps on giving for the Slattery family – when you presume he is has nothing-left-to give, he wins again.
Now 10-years-old, Sharjah perhaps is not open to any more progression rationally, although there is still appears plenty too be won with him on the testimony of his recent encouraging form-lines at Dundalk stadium at the back of their winter series.
It’s well-documented Dundalk has continuously been a happy hunting-ground for the son of Shamardal throughout the duration of his career, accomplishing nine wins of his fifteen wins at this County Louth track.
Can he become the winning-most horse at Dundalk Stadium?
Sharjah is in hot pursuit of the Anthony McCann trained Togoville who is the present-day winning-most horse at this all-weather track with 11 eleven wins; Slattery will be plotting a way his thoroughbred can gain that elusive tittle as we speak.
The deterioration in form last summer, and early winter have afforded Sharjah a workable present-day handicap mark to go to ‘war’ with this summer, speaking of his imminent plans Slattery insisted; “We have always thought of him as a resilient horse, he is just back from a short break and will run-away all summer, as long as we have fast ground, Sharjah will pay his way”.
Slattery then insisted; “Sharjah’s that kind of horse, he minds himself and that’s why he’s run 139 times and never had a day lame in his life. He just loves the game and is a pleasure to train. If there was ten of him – we’d be on to something”.
Yesterday’s results do not win tomorrows race. Sharjah will enter the winner’s enclosures, before too long. Sharjah is a once in a lifetime horse for the Slattery family.
