Leading Matamata Breeders’ Stakes candidates Captured By Love and Alabama Lass both impressed in their main lead-up work ahead of Saturday’s home track feature.

Galloping 18 metres out on the soft course proper, Captured By Love (Bosson) was paired with El Viento (Parmar) over 1000m in 1:06.6, finishing off with 600m in 37.2. Captured By Love is unbeaten after three starts, the last two of those the Gr. 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and Gr. 3 Taranaki 2YO Classic, and appears to have gone on the right way. El Viento is a form runner in Saturday’s MAAT 1400.

Alabama Lass (Winter), who was so impressive on debut earlier in the month, was paired with her three-year-old stablemate My Annie Belle (Turner) in impressive work over 1000m in 1:04.2 and 36.4. Alabama Lass is a genuine rival for Captured By Love, while My Annie Belle has the form to be a major threat in the Rating 65 1200.

Move To Strike (Bosson), the highest rated entry for the Fairview Matamata Slipper, went with Trobriand (Colgan) over 1000m in 1:07.8 and 38, while stablemate and race rival Unbridled Joy (S Weatherley) was paired with with Freeze Frame (Holmquist) over the same ground 1:07.2 and 37.2.

Savaglee (Mullineaux), another in the Slipper, was strong in his work with Dragon Biscuit (Jacobsen) over 1000m in 1:05.2 and 36.8. Stablemate Tevere (Jacobsen) prepared for the Lisa Chittick Plate with Thatsallshewrote (Mullineaux) over 1000m in 1:10.2 and 38.8.

Members of the Te Akau team set to join the Cranbourne stable worked well on the course ahead of their flight to Melbourne. Quintessa (Amit) and Certainly (Bosson) were paired over 1000m in 1:06.2 and 37.4, while Campionessa (Bosson) went with Treaty of Paris (Colgan) over 1200m in 1:20.6, 1:03.9 and 36.6.

Snazzytavi (B Grylls) and To Catch A Thief (C Grylls) prepared for the local meeting with strong work over 1200m in 1:17.2, 1:03 and 36.8. To Catch A Thief worked well with blinkers fitted. Last-start winner Madame Le Fay (Nishizuka) was travelling well at the end of 1200m in 1:20.8, 1:05.3 and 36.8, while Corbatin (J Collett) cut out 1000m in 1:06.5 and 39.2, and Meisho Toot (C Grylls) ran the same distance in 1:10.2 and 39.

On the plough, Karman Line (Farr) and Neighbourhood (Simma) shaped up well for the weekend when the strode over 1200m in 1:16.8, 1:03 and 36.2. Last-start winner Jolted (Turner) looked ready to step up to a middle-distance on Saturday when she covered 1200m in 1:16.5, 1:02.4 and 36.2, while Arby (S Weatherley) and Renegade Rebel (Harris) also got through their work well over the same ground in 1:20.2, 1:04.4 and 37.2.

Accidental Tourist (Colgan) and Talisker (Bosson) prepared for their respective Matamata and Otaki engagements over 1200m in 1:21.5, 1:05.1 and 37.6. Maven Belle (Bosson), another heading down to Otaki, cut out 1000m in 1:04.4 and 37, while Miss Solitaire (Tynan) ran the same trip in 1:02.8 and 36.2, A Little Love (Loon) and Smokeshow (Rastrick) took 1:02.6 and 36.8, Extortion (Sherwood) and Navigator (Harris) 1:03.6 and 36.4, Jaffira (C Grylls) and Toko Ono (Simma) 1:03.2 and 36.4, and Wet ’N’ Wild (Bragg) and Kai Moana (Prastiyou) 1:02.8 and 36.4.

Fashion Shoot (Bosson) and Fantabulous (Parmar) went steadily through the early stages of 1000m to complete the distance in 1:06.2, quickening from the 600m in 36.9. Amberite (Cox) ran a solo 1000m in 1:03.8 and 37, Rule Of Law (Bosson) and Sophisticardo (Colgan) returned 1:03.6 and 36.8, Still Bangon (Sanson) breezed up in 1:06.8 and 41, and Amazing Firl (Bosson) took 1:04.7 and 36.3.

On the No. 1 sand Maria Farina (S Weatherley) and Bea A Rocca (A Jones) strode over their last 1000m in 1:08.2 and 38.5.