By Glenn Davis
Trainer Sharlee Hoffman will resist the temptation of heading to Brisbane for the Country Stampede Final next month if Narda Shar claims the Far North’s last remaining qualifier at Atherton on Saturday.
Tolga conditioner Hoffman will also saddle up Sylvester in the 1100 metre feature but has given punters a lead with her preference for Narda Shar.
As well as Atherton, the Roma Turf Club stages another Country Stampede qualifier in the state’s South East as well as the Roma Cup, which is the final qualifier for the Country Cups Challenge Final.
The $105,000 Country Stampede Final will be run over 1110 metres at Doomben on December 3, the same day as the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge Final over 1600 metres.
Hoffman, who trains a team of 18 horses at Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands, believes Narda Shar’s liking for the local track could favour the gelding.
“It certainly is a strong race at Atherton but Sylvester hasn’t met the qualifying conditions for the Final at Doomben,” Hoffman said.
“Narda Shar has but I doubt he’ll go as both he and Sylvester are at the end of their campaigns.”