Members of the Ken and Bev Kelso stable shaped well for upcoming engagements when they galloped impressively at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

Promising filly Levakia (Winter) looked ready to clear maiden grade on her home track on Friday when she and stablemate Vendabelle (Turner) cut out a smart 1000m on the No. 1 sand, recording 1:02.9 and 35.8 for the final 600m. Levakia, who races in the same colours as fellow Proisir progeny Levante and Legarto, finished second on debut at Taupo last month and has made pleasing progress since.

My Annie Belle (Turner) prepared for Te Rapa on Sunday over 1000m in 1:02.4 and 36.8. She was followed by Te Rapa entry Jolted (Winter), who recorded 1:02.4 and 36.8. My Annie Belle won a trial early last month but her campaign has been delayed due to heavy tracks, while Jolted, who showed real staying potential last season, will also require a reasonable track this weekend.

Others to work on the No. 1 sand included Court Of Appeal (Allen) and Romancing The Moon (Pinn), who prepared for their respective Matamata and Te Rapa engagements with 1000m in 1:05.3 and 39.2. Mazzucato (Miller) was timed over 1000m in 1:03.5, but fog prevented any sectional split.

Great Northern Steeplechase candidate Auld Jock was ridden by his co-trainer Jess Brosnan in long work on the No. 1 sand, completing the last of three rounds with 1200m in 1:22.3 and 600m in 39.6. The Wellington and Grand National Steeplechase runner-up finished midfield on the flat last week and will strip at peak fitness for Sunday’s big event.

Stablemate Teen Titan (J Brosnan), who will start in the maiden hurdle at Te Rapa, also did striding work and completed his second round with 600m in 41.2.

On the course proper, which was in the better range of heavy with the markers set at 23 metres, Tregor (J Collett) look well ahead of his Te Rapa engagement when cutting out 1000m in 1:12 and 39.5. The Pam Gerard-trained pair Dubai Gold (Fawcett) and Kaz Caz (Jacobsen) shaped up well for their debuts on Friday as they completed 1000m in 1:08.2 and 39.4.

Te Atatu Dream (Osborne) and Te Atatu Memphis (Farr) worked separately over ground at three-quarter-pace.

On the plough, which was dead after an overnight shower, Campionessa (Pinn) and Elegant Lady (Miller) prepared for Te Rapa with 1200m in 1:20.8, the last 1000m in 1:05 and 600m in 37.4.

Channel Surfer (Wratten) did good work over 1200m in 1:20.2, finishing off with 1000m in 1:04.8 and 600m in 36.8. The Richardson/Norvall-trained gelding resumes at Te Rapa on Sunday. Also over ground, Jake (M Brosnan) covered 1200m in 1:19.2, 1:07.4 and 37.8.

Still Bangon (Sanson), down to resume at Te Rapa, left 1000m behind in 1:04 and 37.3, while stablemate Midnight Monarch (Sanson), an improver’s second at her last start, covered the same distance in 1:04.2 and 37.4.

Silkdegrees (Fawcett) and Loch Katrine (Sanson) worked well ahead of their weekend engagements over 1000m in 1:05, quickening impressively for a final 600m in 36.8. Egyptian Queen (Allen) didn’t waste any time over 1000m in 1:03.5 and 37.2, What You Wish For (Miller) and Superbly Written (Pinn) ran the same trip in 1:05.5 and 37.9, and Trobriand (Parmar) recorded 1:07.7 and 38.1.

Runninwiththedevil (Hillis), an entry for the 990-metre dash at New Plymouth’s Xtreme Raceday this weekend, wasn’t after time over 1000m in 1:08.5 and 37.4. Quartz Queen (M Brosnan) was well held over 1000m in 1:11.2 and 41.2, while Wolverine (Miller) was timed over her last 800m in 49.5 and 36.2. Meisho Toot (R Cole) ran the same distance in 56.4 and 41.8