Horses engaged in Saturday’s Foxbridge Plate were in the spotlight when they galloped on a very heavy course proper at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Work took place right-handed with the markers set at 22 metres, where Bonny Lass was ridden by raceday rider Craig Grylls in her 1000m hitout which she completed with a strong final 600m in 38.6. The Richardson/Norvall-trained won a trial at Te Rapa earlier this month and has made pleasing progress since, as indicated by her shortening to equal favourite on the fixed odds market for the weight-for-age feature.
Race rival Waitak (Rastrick) was accompanied by Te Rapa maiden contendor Time Traveller (Tynan) in similar work, recording 39.4 for the final 600m. Last year’s Foxbridge Plate winner Dragon Leap (Rastrick) did well in his solo gallop to cut out his final 600m in 39.5. The Wexford Stables pair have both had two lead-up trials and are in forward condition for their season-opener.
Skew Wiff and Romancing the Moon, two further Matamata-trained Foxbridge Plate entrants, were due to have a gallop between races at Taupo on Wednesday.
Recent trial winner My Annie Belle (Turner) was another to turn in smart work ahead of the weekend, leaving her final 600m behind in 39.8. Egyptian Queen (Bosson) and Luxuriant (Danis) prepared for their respective Te Rapa and Awapuni Friday engagements with a final 600m in 40.
Loch Katrine (Sanson) and Miriam (C Grylls) worked well together, cutting out their last 600m in 39.9, while Mailmaison (Miller) also broke the 40-second mark with a time of 39.8. Last-start Te Rapa maiden graduate Tregor (J Collett) looked bright in his well-held work, recording 42.8 for the last 600m.
Te Rapa entry Suit Yourself (Hashizume) went with Let’s Dance (C Grylls) as they completed steady work with 600m in 43.6. Stablemate Juwala (Nishizuka) prepared for Te Rapa with striding work over ground, the final 600m in 44.8.
Quintessa (Bosson) who is set to rejoin Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable ahead of her Melbourne engagement on Saturday week, wasn’t after time in her work, finishing off with a final section in 44. Lex Rex (Hashizume), who returns from a year off the scene at Te Rapa this weekend, recorded 41.2 for his last 600m.
Huzzah (Sanson) also did well to return 41, Iffshecan (Butler) took 44, High Roller (Pinn) and Truth Or Dare (Bosson) 42.2, Spielberg (S Weatherley) and Bold General (Jadhav) 42.2, Did The Trick (Hillis) 41.4, Reggae Queen (Prastiyou) and Thankgoditsfriday (Fawcett) 43.6, and Exuberance (Danis) 44.2.