Quality racemares Polly Grey and Bonny Lass were among a large number of horses with weekend engagements to gallop on the course proper at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Working 25 metres on heavy ground after 15mm of overnight rain, Polly Grey (McCall) was well held as she strode over 1000m late in the session, completing the work in 1:13.2 and the last 600m in 42.5.
Although it was not the fastest work of the session, it indicated that Polly Grey has settled in well with her original trainer Kylie Fawcett after a lucrative time with Chris Waller in Sydney. She holds entries for New Plymouth and Te Rapa and is likely to head to the latter venue on Sunday.
Te Rapa open sprint entry Bonny Lass (C Grylls) had more pace on for her 1000m hitout, which she completed in 1:10.6 and 40.8. The Richardson/Norvall-trained mare was an impressive trial winner at Taupo last month.
Taupo Friday entries Molly Bloom (Tynan) and Watergate (Rastrick) gad early use of the track as they cut out 1000m in 1:10 and 40.2. Romancing The Moon (Gujar) and Grace ’N’ Grey (Allen) prepared for Taupo with sound work over 1000m in 1:09.4 and 41.2, while Magawa (Rastrick) and Fabulous Gal (Tynan) recorded 1:1:09.6 and 40.8, I Choose You (Parmar) 1:10.2 and 41.3, Balance Of Power (Kamaruddin) and Zourion (Bosson) 1:08.2 and 40.7, Lingjun Hero (D Singh) 1:11 and 41.8, and Trobriand (Bosson) and Cognito (Sheehan) 1:08.2 and 40.7.
Midnight Monarch (Sanson) and Still Bangon (B Grylls) prepared for Taupo over 1000m in 1:12.2 and 41.3, while Stuff of Dreams (T Harris) and Fay Khan It (Melvin) took 1:09.5 and 41.6, Faravallo (B King) 1:13.8 and 42.4, Grail Seeker (Pratap) and Khamaseen (Farr) 1:11.7 and 41.8, She Turns Heads (Gujar) and Superbly Written (Allen) 1:09.2 and 41, and Matawai (S Weatherley) and Mali Ston (D Weatherley) 1:14.9 and 42.6.
Highlighter (Farr) who takes on open company at Te Rapa after a hat-trick coming through the grades, was never at top over 1000m in 1:14 and 41.2. New Plymouth entry La Verite (Turner) was timed over her last 800m in 54.6 and 40.5, while Seajetz (B King) appeared to complete his work well without being timed.
Last-start hurdle winner Shocking Penny (Farr) who reverts to the flat over 3210m at New Plymouth’s Xtreme Raceday, worked over two rounds and was timed from the 1200m in 1:27.6, 1:13.8 and 44.6.
Te Rapa entry Strathtay (Farr) cut out 1000m in 1:12.2 and 41.6, Thermoregulate (Singh) and Helly Belly (Sanson) clocked 1:11 and 42.2, and Tarted Up (B Grylls) 1:14.8 and 44.2. Paisley Park (Wratten) covered 800m in 56.2 and 41.4, and Page Turner (C Grylls) and tranquil Eyes (Kareem) followed in 57.6 and 42.4.