Mali Ston and Tulsi were among a host of horses with engagements through the holiday period to impress when they galloped at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Working on the plough, Mali Ston (S Weatherley) and Tulsi (McNab) strode over 1000m together in 1:06.2, the last 600m in 37.6. Others returned faster time, however the Weatherley-trained pair looked on target for their Pukekohe targets on Boxing Day, when Mali Ston is engaged in the Zabeel Classic and Tulsi in the Eight Carat Classic.
A handful of gallops took place on the course proper, which was rated soft but still offered very good footing. Against the rail in the true position, Legarto (Elliot) was paired with her maiden stablemate My Annie Belle (Turner), cutting out 1000m in 1:03.9 and 35.6. Legarto will run in the open trial at Friday’s local meeting and is scheduled to resume on opening day at Ellerslie in mid-January ahead of the Aotearoa Classic. My Annie Belle is down to make her debut on Friday.
Trentham-bound juveniles Unbridled Joy (Bosson) and When Stars Align looked the part when they scooted in from 800m mark in 47.5 and 35.5. Both Te Akau youngsters have good trial form.
Other gallops on the course proper were outside the markers at 25 metres, where Bonny Lass (Wratten) was well held over 1000m in 1:08.9 and 39.1. She is also entered for Friday’s pre-races trial. Home track maiden candidates Little Jeanie (Elliot) and Jolted (Turner) ran soundly over 1000m in 1:04.2 and 37.3, while Monza (Leighton) prepared for Te Rapa on Saturday over 1000m in 1:06.4 and 39.6. Shoes (Parmar) cut out 800m in 55.4 and 39.7.
Back on the plough, Friday maiden candidates Certainly (Bosson) and Tranquila (Parmar) shaped up well over 1000m in 1:05.4 and 36.6, as did Tempest (Farr) in her solo 1000m in 1:03.2 and 36.4. Maven Belle (Bosson), who trials on Friday ahead of the Sistema Railway, looked bright in easy work over 1000m in 1:09.3 and 40.2.
Maria Farina (S Weatherley) was paired with Ardy (A Jones) over a well-run 1000m in 1:05.3 and 36, while others to shape well over the same ground included Court Of Appeal (Bosson) and Invincibeel (Leighton) in 1:03.6 and 36.2, Darci’s Angel (Kareem) and Buccino (S Singh) 1:04.6 and 37.8, What You Wish For (Bosson) and El Viento (McNab) 1:028 and 36.3, Kith ’N’ Kin (Melvin) and Inca Gold (Bosson) 1:03.6 and 36.5, Smokeshow (Rastrick) and Sax ’N’ Silks (Jacobsen) 1:02.5 and 36.1, Skipping (Sima) 1:02.4 and 36.8, and Can’t Catch Me (Burdan) and Matakana Girl (S Weatherley) 1:03.2 and 37.
Eight Carat Classic candidate Molly Bloom (Rastrick) was unextended over 1000m in 1:09.5 and 40.5, while race rival Livid Sky (S Weatherley) went with Friday runner Fairshare (Philovluv) left 1000m behind in 1:05 and 37.2. Auckland Guineas entry Geriatrix (Rastrick) took 1:06.4 and 37.2, Tanganyika (Farr) was well held over the same ground in 1:08.2 and 39, Lingjun Xiongfeng (Mullineaux) and Mineshaft (Yuki) took 1:09.2 and 38.4, Akenehi (Bosson) and Superbly Written (Parmar) 1:04.2 and 36.2, Harlech (Dellow) and Pericles (Mullineaux) 1:09.8 and 40.4, Accidental Tourist (McNab) and Aotea Lad (Kamaruddin) 1:04.8 and 36.8, Trobriand (McNab) and Talisker (Kamaruddin) 1:06.2 and 36.4, and Candy Cane (G Singh) and Choose Em Big (Fawcett) 1:11.2 and 39.8.
On the No. 1 sand Bad ’N’ Bouj (Kamaruddin) prepared for Trentham on Saturday when cutting out a smart 1000m with Rocky Marciano (S McKay) in 1:02.8 and 35.8.