Fillies preparing for Saturday’s Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks were the major focus at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

The Stepen Autridge-trained pair Livid Sky (S Weatherley) and Still Bangon (Sanson) worked well ahead of their weekend assignment over 1000m on the plough in 1:04.2, the final 600m in 36.4. Both fillies have come through their Sunline Vase runs in good order.

Cupid’s Arrow (Tynan) prepared for the Oaks with a solo hitout over 1200m in 1:18.6, maintaining a strong gallop over the last 1000m in 1:02.8 and the final 600m in 36.8. The Wexford Stables filly has progressed well with a maiden win and a fourth placing behind older opposition in her last two starts.

Sunline Stakes runner-up Quali Al Farrasha (Bosson) worked with Mehzebeen (Kennedy) against the rail of the course proper in the 6.5 metre position, where the ground was on the cusp of good and soft. The Te Akau pair were timed from the 1200m in 1:19.2, the last 1000m in 1:03.8 and the final 600m in an impressive 35.5. Quali Al Farrh is in good order for her Trentham assignment, while Mehzebeen is set to head to Melbourne.

Other course proper gallops took place 20 metres out, where Pericles (Mullineaux) prepared for the Wellington Guineas with Tauranga entry Naxos (Jacobsen), cutting out 1000m in 1:07.8 and 600m in 37.2. Bea A Rocca (A Jones) and unraced maiden Annabelle (S Weatherley) worked well over 1000m in 1:05.6 and 38.4, while Reputation (Nishizuka) prepared for the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham with Tauranga candidate Thatsallshewrote (Mullineaux) over 1200m in 1:25.6, 1:08.5 and 38.9.

Madame Le Fay (Nishizuka) worked well ahead of her Tauranga engagement with 1200m in 1:22.3, 1:06 and 37.6, while Mineshaft (Jacobsen) and Skaw Valley (Mullineaux) were unextended in their work over the same ground in1:28.5, 1:11.2 and 40.5.

Back on the plough, Tokyo Tycoon (Bosson) was impressive in his Wellington Guineas gallop with Tauranga entry She Turns Heads (Pinn) in 1:05.4 and 37.2. Stablemate Petrucci (Bosson) looked the part for the Lightning Handicap when cutting out 1000m in 1:03.5 and 36.3, while Tauranga entry Jolted (Winter) also caught the eye when paired with Divine Essence (Turner) over the same ground in 1:02.8 and 36.7.

Channel Surfer (Kareem) and Confiance (S Singh) also underlined their Tauranga prospects when working over 1200m in 1:20.6, quickening from the 1000m mark in 1:04.8 and the final 600m in 36.4. Wellington Guineas entry Grail Seeker (P Singh) and Tauranga runner Karman Line (Rastrick) caught the eye over 1000m in 1:02.8 and 35.9, as did Maria Farina (S Weatherley) and Breckon Power (A Jones) over the same ground in 1:03.4 and 36.2.

Geriatrix (Rastrick) prepared for the Wellington Guineas with Tauranga entry Little Bit of Love (L Singh) over 1000m in 1:03.2 and 36.8. Others to work well over 1000m included Malborough Bay (Melvin) and El Viento (Kennedy) in 1:04 and 36.2, Molly Bloom (Rastrick) 1:03.5 and 36.6, Skipping (Dellow) 1:02.2 and 36.8, Insatiable (Kennedy) 1:05.8 and 36.6, Valentine (Kennedy) and Altari (Bosson) 1:05.6 and 36.8, Family Ties (Allen) and Aequus (Parmar) 1:04.6 and 36.2, Morello (Simma) and Chickweed (L Singh) 1:03.8 and 37.5, Text Regrets (Hillis) 1:03.8 and 36.9, My Lips Are Sealed (Pinn) 1:04.2 and 36.6, Freeze Frame (Kennedy) 1:05.2 and 36.8, and Vivacious (Pinn) 1:05.7 and 37.

In longer work, Devoted and Fashion Shoot (Bosson) left 1200m behind in 1:19.8, 1:03.5 and 36.9, Cognito (Melvin) and Balance of Power (Kennedy) 1:23.1, 1:05.3 and 37.2, and Certainly (Allen) and Treaty Of Paris (Pinn) 1:19.3, 1:03.5 and 36.2. Certainly is scheduled to have her next start in Melbourne on Saturday week.

The Quokka slot selection Waitak (Rastrick) was full of himself when allowed to slide home from the 800m in 53 and 38.6.