Aromatic and Poser prepared for weekend feature racing with impressive work at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Galloping against the rail in the three-metre position with the ground just into the soft range, Aromatic (Parmar) and Poser (K Pertab) worked away from the 1200m mark to cover that distance in 1:16.8. They gathered speed and recorded 1:03 for the last 1000m, completing their work with 600m in 36.1.
Both mares are in good order, with Aromatic set to run in the Gr. 1 Livamol Classic and Poser on the borderline for a start in the Hastings feature with the option of the Staphanos Classic at Rotorua on Sunday.
Impressive recent winner Adam I Am (Fawcett) was paired with Navigator (Harris) over a smart 1000m in 1:03.1 and 600m in 36. Adam I Am is entered for the MAAT 1400m as well as the Rating 65 over the same distance at Hastings, while Navigator will run in the latter race.
Channel Surfer (Wratten) looked in the right order for Hastings when striding over 1200m in 1:19.7, finishing off with 1000m in 1:05.4 and 600m in 38.2. Hastings feature sprint rivals Puketiro (Colgan) and Romancing The Moon (Asano) were well matched over 1000m in 1:04.8 and 37.3, while Rotorua entries Mood Painter (Parmar) and Fancy Like (Lammas) did well over the same distance in 1:06.5 and 36.8.
Leading NZ 1000 Guineas candidate Molly Bloom (Rastrick) prepared for Hastings with Rotorua candidate Stickto The Orders (Kumagai) over 1000m in 1:05.8 and 37.2. La Verite (Turner) hit the line hard at the end of 1000m in 1:05.8 and 600m in a dashing 35.7.
Tempest (Farr) also put plenty into her work over 1000m in 1:02.4 and 37.6, while Valentine (Asano) and What You Wish For (Colgan) ran the same distance in 1:05.6 and 36.8. Also over 1000m, Rosie Brahma (Goodwin) and Diomedes (Prastiyou) recorded 1:08.8 and 36.6, Vino Valentino (Tynan) took 1:05.5 and 38.6, and Martel (J Collett) 1:05.3 and 37.2. Hastings entry Wet ’N’ Wild (Harris) was travelling well as she completed strong work with 600m in 36.2.
The most impressive of those to gallop on the No. 2 sand was Our Alley Cat (Cox), who cut out 1000m in 59.6 and 35.8 ahead of her Spring Sprint engagement at Hastings.