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Find your Sport Nation frequencySharrock eyeing off another feature mile with Tisse
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • November 11th, 2026 2:15 pm
Tisse will contest Saturday’s Gr.3 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Allan Sharrock has changed tack with Tisse and will keep him to shorter trips than those the New Plymouth trainer initially believed he would excel at.
The New Plymouth trainer’s move was rewarded last time out when the son of Belardo claimed his first stakes title with victory in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham.
He is now targeting back-to-back feature wins when he heads north with the chestnut for a crack at Saturday’s Gr.3 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m).
While Tisse was sent out at odds of better than 20 to one at his most recent appearance, Sharrock was confident of success.
“He was outstanding and his work suggested that,” he said. “I tipped him to a couple of mates and thought he could win that race and couldn’t believe he kept going out in the market.
“His work on Tuesday was equal of that going into the Thompson, it’s a nice race for him and we’re all at level weights. I’m pretty happy with him.”
Tisse has won six of his 26 starts, including two at 2100m, with one of those at Ellerslie in the hands of champion jockey Opie Bosson.
“I always thought of him as a Cups’ horse and the way he races, I thought he’d get two miles and so did Opie,” Sharrock said.
“Every time I set him a prep to get to a two-mile race he came up short, so I think a mile or 2000m is about where we are with him.”
If Tisse runs up to expectations at Tauranga, Sharrock is keen on another northern target for the six-year-old.
“He goes on any tracks and I’m going to push the boat out if he races well, and I think he will, and he may end up in the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie,” he said.
“Waitak clearly is the dominant horse, but the rest of us are much of a muchness so I wouldn’t rule out a tilt at a race like that.”
Kelly Myers guided Tisse to his last-start success and she will again partner him on Saturday, along with stablemates Tullamore Dew (Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing Handicap, 1200m) and Bridal Train (Devan Plastics Handicap (1400m).
Darci Brahma mare Tullamore Due has won both of her starts, a debut maiden victory at Hawera in March 2025 and then scored when next produced 10 months later at Otaki.
“It’s the first time I’ve had her right, I think she is now and worked really well on Tuesday,” Sharrock said.
Group performer Bridal Train was set aside after an unplaced run in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) in May.
“I’ve removed the hood and she’s had two quiet jump-outs, I think she’ll sprint well fresh,” Sharrock said. “She’s more than capable but Tisse is probably the horse we’re hanging our hat on.”
