Promising three-year-old What You Wish For underlined his fitness for Tauranga this weekend when he worked impressively at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Galloping against the course proper rail set at 10 metres and the going rated Soft5, What You Wish For (Allen) was partnered by his high-profile stablemate Tokyo Tycoon (Bosson) over 1000m in 1000m in 1:03.4, finishing off with a brilliant final 600m in 35.6.
It was smart work by any measure and suggested a big effort from What You Wish For in the three-year-old 1300m on Saturday. Tokyo Tycoon has thrived since his impressive fresh-up win at Hastings and is right on target for next week’s Hawke’s Bay Guineas. With the increasing likelihood of flights to and from the Riccarton carnival, the chances of last season’s champion two-year-old starting in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas are likewise looking better.
Lupo Solitario (C Grylls), a rival for What You Wish For at Tauranga, also worked against the rail, picking up the tempo from the 800m in 51.6 and running the final 600m without being extended in 37. The Danica Guy-trained gelding has made pleasing progress since his Te Rapa debut win late last month and will be an interesting runner on the weekend.
Arrowfield Stud Plate favourite Legarto (Turner) was one of a handful to gallop on the No. 1 sand, where she was never at top over 1000m in 1:07.8 and 38.4. She is already odds-on for next week’s Hastings feature, and has thrived since her Tarzino Trophy third.
Remaining course proper gallops took place out wide, with last-start Winter Cup runner-up Cork (Mullineaux) drawing attention to her weekend prospects with a bold gallop over 1200m with So Gorgeous (Yuki) in 123.2. Fog prevented any sectional times, but Cork was strong at the line ahead of her Metric Mile assignment at Awapuni.
Martell (Fawcett) and Red Sniper (J Collett) finished off their work with a respectable 38.8 for their final 600m. Last-start debut winner Red Sniper is entered for Rotorua on Sunday. Tauranga entry Glenamaddy (Goindasamy) went with Spellcraft (Bosson) over 1200m in 1:23.4, the only sectional possible 800m in 52.4.
Mood Painter (Parmar) and Bubalina (Yuki) also worked over ground, recording 1:21.1 for 1200m and 38.2 for the last 600m. Pendragon (Goindasamy) was unextended over 1000m in 1:12.6 and 41.8.
Most other fast work took place on the plough, where Puketiro (Bosson) looked on target to resume at Tauranga when she and My Lips Are Sealed (Allen) cut out 1000m in 1:04.2 and 600m in 36.6. Others to run good time over 1000m included Amberite (Parmar), who returned 1:04.2 and 35.2, Magawa (C Grylls) and Geriatrix (P Singh) 1:03.4 and 36.2, Soraya (T Harris) and Bocote (Goodwin) 1:02.4 and 36.3, Belle of the Ball (Bosson) and Fierce Flight (Kamaruddin) 1:02.6 and 36, Ladylou (C Grylls) and Such Is Life (T Harris) 1:02.8 and 35.8, and Chancellor (Yuki) 1:07.2 and 38.8.
Poser (K Pertab) and Stuff Of Dreams (Plimmer) hit out well over ground ahead of their Tauranga engagements, completing 1200m in 1:1:16.8, 1:02.6 and 36.8. Brando (Bosson) looked bright in well-held work over 1000m in 1:10.8 and 40.6. Our Alley Cat (Parmar) was timed over 1000m in 1:05.8, while Zourion (Bosson) and Kai (Burdan) returned 1:10.6 and 40.6. Zourion was due to fly to Melbourne overnight Tuesday ahead of her season debut at Moonee Valley on Friday week.
Others allowed easy work over 1000m included To Catch A Thief (C Grylls), who returned 1:11.5 and 54.8 for the last 800m. Incubo (T Harris) and Rosie Brahma (Goodwin) were timed over 800m in 49.2 and 35.8, while Wolverine (Bosson) was keen over the same distance in 49.6 and 36.8.