Hastings feature race candidates were the centre of attention at Matamata on Tuesday morning, when most fast work took place on the heavy course proper.

Those with black-type engagements on the weekend galloped 15 metres out, while others did their work on the extreme outside.

The Wexford Stables trio of Waitak, Grail Seeker and Geriatrix got through their work well. Waitak (Rastrick) was on the bridle as he completed 1000m in 1:07.9 and 39. Geriatrix (Rastrick) and Grail Seeker (Leighton) also worked over 1000m, which they cut out in 1:07.2 and 38.3.

Race rivals Bonny Lass and Snazzytavi had separate gallops from the 1200m, building momentum as they went and both finishing off well. Bonny Lass had raceday rider Craig Grylls in the saddle, cutting out 12000m in 1:22.4, with the last 1000m in 1:07.4 and 600m in 39.2, while Snazzytavi (Kareem) followed in 1:22, 1:07 and 39.8. Both Richardson/Norvall-trained mares are in capital order.

Gold Trail Stakes rivals Alabama Lass (Turner) and Dream of the Moon (Bosson) caught the eye in smart work over 1000m in 1:08, the last 600m in 37.2. Alabama Lass in particular appeared to work well and will line up as favourite in Saturday’s three-year-old filly feature.

Savaglee (Parmar), another to impress in his fresh-up Taupo win, wasn’t after time as he prepared for Saturday’s Sir Colin Meads Trophy with 1000m in 1:10.8 and 39.5.

In remaining course proper work out wide, the Cody Cole-trained pair Navigator (Harris) and Renovations (S Weatherley) went well over 1000m in 1:07.8 and 38.2, while stablemates Carajillo (Pinn) and Kind Thoughts (S Weatherley) also prepared for Hastings with 1000m in 1:10 and 40.4.

Emerging stayer Sassy Lass (Osborne) worked solo ahead of the weekend over 1200m in 1:23, 1:08.9 and 40.2, while stablemate Reptak (Rastrick) left 1000m behind in 1:08.1 and 39.2. Sterling Express (M Brosnan) was unextended over 1000m in 1:12 and 41.8.

Horses preparing for Ruakaka on Saturday included Shoes (Fawcett), who was well held over 1000m in 1:13.2 and 40.6, while Mach Schnell (Leighton) ran the same distance in 1:12.2 and 41.6.

Huzzah (Sanson) did well later in the session to cut out 1000m in 1:07.5 and 39.8. Tokyo Tycoon (Bosson) and When Stars Align (Parmar) completed 1000m in 1:09.9 and 40.3.

On the No. 1 sand, Hastings-bound Giacomo (S McKay) and Ballon d’Or (C Grylls) ran a smart 1000m in 1:02.8 and 36.2.