Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Ladies First’s trip to contest the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings next week is doubtful.

Last season’s Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner finished unplaced in her two starts at Hastings this month and will now head to the Egmont Cup (2100m) on October 13 before a decision is made on her Melbourne Cup tilt. 

“I haven’t pulled her out (of the Livamol) as yet,” New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock said. “But there’s no sign of rain and from us on this side of the Island it’s a 13-hour return trip, she has done that twice now. 

“I’m am still very happy with the mare, she will run in the Egmont Cup (instead). In my opinion she has to be winning it and then we’ll make the decision to go.

“I would be quite happy to stay local and it still gives us two weeks until the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.”

Sharrock said she didn’t finish off her last-start over 2000m at Hastings as well as he would have liked, but is still happy with the Dylan Thomas six-year-old heading into the business end of her spring preparation.

“I am comfortable where my mare is, even allowing for the form, but she probably has to win her next start,” Sharrock said. 

“She continues to work well. She raced out of her comfort zone the other day. There was a strong tempo and she carried a lot of weight. She was weaker to the line than what I would have thought, that happens, but going forward we have got to get it right.” 

Ladies First is currently 51st in order of entry for the Melbourne Cup.