Reservations and Navigator looked on target for upcoming assignments when galloping stylishly at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Working on the plough, Reservations (Turner) and Navigator (Harris) travelled sweetly over 1000m in 1:03.8, finishing off with 600m in 36.2. Reservations is improved by her bold fourth in the Gold Trail Stakes and should be hard to beat in the three-year-old 1300m at Tauranga on Saturday. Navigator has come through his fresh-up win at Hastings in excellent order and will step up to open company on Livamol Classic day.
Channel Surfer (Wratten) came up with another good workout when striding over 1200m in 1:19.2, finishing off with 1000m in 1:03.9 and 600m in 37. Also over ground, Tauranga weekend entries Brian Lamont (Hillis) and Te Atatu Memphis (Farr) worked soundly to complete 1200m in 1:22.4, 1:07.8 and 39.2.
Grace ’N’ Glory (M Brosnan) looked well when cutting out 1000m in 1:04.2 and 37.4, while Midnight Monarch (Sanson), a likely runner at Hawera on Saturday, covered the same ground in 1:05 and 37.4.
Extortion (Harris) was paired with Bellezor (Parmar) for a smartly-run 1000m in 1:04.6 and 36.8. Bradley (Harris) and Doingitforthedigs (Prastiyou) also did well over 1000m in 1:03.9 and 36.8, while Tauranga entries Livid Sky (Sanson) and Sumit Heights (C Grylls) clocked 1:04 and 37.3.
Akenehi (Danis) and Charmrose (Bosson) weren’t after time over 1000m in 1:07 and 38.2, nor were Juwala (Dellow) and Skaw Valley (Nishizuka) in 1:05.4 and 37.5, and Old Bill Bone (Butler) and Bannen (C Grylls) in 1:09.2 and 40.2.
Also over 1000m, Zacabasso (Halliday) and True Promise (Kareem) returned 1:07.4 and 38.8, Skipping (Dellow) and Why Not Me (Nishizuka) 1:10.6 and 38.6, Vendabelle (Turner) 1:12 and 41.4, and My Annie Belle (Turner) 1:13.6 and 41.2.
NZ 1000 Guineas favourite Alabama Lass (Turner) was paired with recent trial winner Litteral (Winter) in an eye-catching 800m in 49.6 and 35.5. Alabama Lass will have a hitout at next week’s Matamata trials ahead of the Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie at the end of the month.
On the course proper, where the going 18 metres out was rated Soft5, Commanding Aspect (Dellow) and Dragon Bubbles (Parmar) hit out well over 1200m in 1:19.8, with the last 1000m in 1:04.5 and 600m in 37.3. Commanding Aspect showed improvement with a fresh-up fourth and is entered for Tauranga on Saturday.
Carooba Mahwhooba (Parmar) worked solo over 1000m in 1:13.5, quickening over the last 600m in 39.6.
On the No. 1 sand, last-start winner Court Of Appeal (Bosson) was paired with Inspired By Art (Allen) over a smart 1000m in 1:03.8 and 36.3. Court of Appeal is entered for Tauranga on the weekend.
Diamonds For Jen (C Grylls) and Santa Catalina (S McKay) weren’t after time over 1000m in 1:06.6 and 37.4, while Clear Conscience (Parmar) breezed over the last 800m of her work in 59.5 and 42.8.