Candidates for Saturday’s Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes drew most attention at Matamata on Tuesday morning, when fog affected the timing of numerous gallops.

Working on the plough, Captured By Love had her raceday rider Craig Grylls in the saddle when she went with fellow Te Akau two-year-old The Victress (Bosson) in a soundly-run 1000m in 1:02.5. No sectional split was possible, however the overall time compared well with others during the session.

Captured By Love has made pleasing progress since her Sistema Stakes placing and will strip fit for the step up to 1400m in the Trentham feature, while The Victress has the benefit of a recent trial ahead of her resuming run at Pukekohe on Saturday.

Stablemates Unbridled Joy (Bosson) and Move To Strike (Pinn) were paired in similar work but were unable to be timed. Like Captured By Love, they also had a strong hitout between races at the local meeting last Wednesday.

The centre’s fourth candidate for the Sires’ Produce, Savaglee (Mullineaux), worked with Pukekohe entry Force of Law (Parmar) on the course proper where the markers were set at 22 metres and the going was in the lower range of soft. The Ballymore Stables duo hit the line hard at the end of 1000m in 1:05.8 and 600m in 37.2. Savaglee also had an exhibition gallop last week and returns to the scene of his impressive spring debut in good order.

Also on the course proper, stablemate Lingjun Xiongfeng (Mullineaux) caught the eye working over ground with Skaw Valley (Jacobsen), cutting out the last 1200m in 1:24. They quickened from the 1000m in 1:08.8 and finished off with 600m in 38.

Pukekohe entries Cintivee (Parmar) and Thatsallshewrote (Mullineaux) left 1200m behind in 1:24.4, with no sectional times possible, while Wet ’N’ Wild (Harris) and Miraqua (Prastiyou) prepared for Pukekohe with a solid hitout that was unable to be timed.

Back on the plough, Monday Melody (Rastrick) left a good impression when working with Neighbourhood (Jacobsen) over a solid 1200m in 1:16.8. Monday Melody is in good order for Saturday’s Manawatu Classic.

Trentham-bound stablemates Dark Destroyer (A Jones) and Arby (S Weatherley) were also in good form over ground, timed from the 1200m in 1:16.2 and 1000m in 1:02. Fellow Awapuni Gold Cup entry Aotea Lad (Pinn) was paired with Cognito (Bosson) over the ground in 1:17.4, 1:02.1 and a very respectable 36.3.

Trentham entry Channel Surfer (Wratten) went with Snazzy Tavi (S Singh) over 1200m in 1:16.9 and 1:02.2, while Balance Of Power (Bosson) and Devoted (Allen) returned 1:18.2 and 1:02.8. Petrucci (Bosson) prepared for the open 1400m at Trentham with solo work over 1000m in 1:03.3.

Breckon Power (A Jones) and Perspective (S Weatherley) prepared for Pukekohe with 1000m in 1:04.8 and 37.6, as did Uderzo (Rastrick) in 1:05.1 and 37.2. Insatiable (Bosson) turned in another strong workout over the same ground in 1:01.9 and 35.8, and Complicate (Jaffer) returned 1:09.2, quickening noticeably for a final 600m in 36.6.

Choose ’Em Big (Fawcett) strode over 1200m in 1:24.6, 1:06.8 and 37.5, while Paisley Park (Wratten) and Confiance (S Singh) worked soundly over ground in 1:19.4, 1:05.2 and 37.6.