Horses preparing for Saturday’s Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate were the centre of attention at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Te Akau stablemates Brando and Skew Wiff were both ridden by Opie Bosson in solo gallops against the 5.5 metre rail setting on the heavy course. Skew Wiff was especially impressive as she cut out 1000m in 1:05.6, quickening from the 600m in 36.9. The Savabeel mare, who had no trouble handling the heavy ground, has come to hand well for her four-year-old campaign.
Brando also got through his work well, clocking 1:04.4 and 36.8 for his 1000m. He may find Saturday’s 1200m too short, but after finishing off last season in superb form he will be one to follow heading into spring.
Impressive last-start winner Dragon’s Leap (Rastrick) worked on the course proper between the markers set at 20m, where he strode comfortably over 1000m in 1:10.2 and 39.2. He has trained on well from his Ruakaka win and will be ridden on Saturday by in-form jockey Warren Kennedy.
Pier (S Weatherley) and Mali Ston (T Harris) prepared for the Foxbridge Plate with sound work over 1000m in 1:10.9 and 39.5. Pier, a recent Trial winner, is coming to hand well, while Mali Ston is also progressing well after two lead-up trials.
Highlighter (Farr) appeared to get through her work well over 1000m in 1:11.8 and 40.5. In similar work, Winexpress (Rastrick) covered 1000m in 1:11.4 and 40.4, while Magic Ace (Farr) recorded 1:11.2 and 40.
Dynastic (Bosson), who will travel with Imperatriz to Melbourne next week, was paired with Te Rapa entry Savoir Faire (Kamaruddin) over a sound 1000m in 1:08.6 and 40.2. Poser (K Pertab) looked in good order for her Te Rapa engagement when she and stablemate Such Is Life (Newman) cut out the last 1000m of their work in 1:09.4 and 40.6.
Hint (T Harris) and Truro (S Weatherley), interesting first starters this weekend from the Weatherley stable, got through the early stages of their work steadily to record 1:14.4 for 1000m, quickening over the last 600m in 41.6.
Soprano Supreme (Bosson) and Glenamaddy (Kamaruddin) were timed over their last 1000m in 1:09.5 and 41.6, while So The Fox (J Collett) strode over 1200m in 1:27.2, 1:12.6 and 43. Star Of Justice (Bosson) and Midnight Monarch (Sanson) were paired over 1000m in 1:10.8 and 41.6, while Mineshaft (Mullineaux) and Bubalina (Yuki) were unextended over 1000m in 1:12.8 and 42.
Lovearoadie (C Grylls) and Mi Bella (Kareem) strode their last 800m in 55.2 and 41.3, while Thunderhill (Sanson) and Lupo Solitario (Leighton) recorded 58.9 and 42.8. Mood Painter (Yuki) and Fancy Like (Mullineaux) were well held over 1000m in 1:13.2 and 42.
On the No. 2 sand, Tarted Up (C Grylls) caught the eye over 1000m in 1:05.4 and 36.8, while The Mighty Spar (Bosson) and Prismatic (Kamaruddin) covered the same ground in 1:04.2 and 36.5. Amberite (Prendergast) finished off his work well at the end of 1000m in 1:08.9 and 36.7.