Leading three-year-old fillies Alabama Lass and Captured By Love both looked in good order for their Labour weekend engagements when they galloped at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

The majority of fast work took place on the plough, where Alabama Lass (Turner) was paired with Vendabelle (Winter) over a truly run 1000m in 1:01.2, maintaining their momentum for a final 600m in 35.3. It was excellent work by the Kelso-trained pair ahead of Ellerslie on Saturday, where Alabama Lass will run in the Soliloquy Stakes and Vendabelle in the maiden 1500m.

Captured By Love (Bosson), who shares favouritism with Alabama Lass in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and is favourite for the 2000 Guineas, went with Wild Night (Pinn) over a more contained 1000m in 1:08.6 and 38.5. Captured By Love will have her final start ahead of Riccarton in the James & Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa on Monday, while Wild Night will run in the open 1400m on the same card.

Bannen (C Cole) and Doingitforthedigs (K Pertab) caught the eye with smart work for maidens over 1000m in 1:03.8 and 35.8. Bannon is drawn well for his debut at New Plymouth on Friday. Race rival Miss Bo Beep (Farr) also worked well over 1000m in 1:03.2 and 37. She shapes as an improver from her recent first start.

Ellerslie entry Livid Sky (Sanson) was another who looked improved for her campaign opener when she got through 1000m in 1:04.4 and 37. Stoneybreck (Pinn) and Cognito (Bosson) prepared for their weekend engagements when hitting out well over 1000m in 1:03.6 and 36.5.

Chante Moi (Wratten) cut out 1000m in 1:05.8 and 37, while stablemate and fellow Te Rapa entry Lovearoadie (Halliday) followed over the same distance in a smart 1:04.7 and 35.8. Kind Thoughts (Turner) and Dudaday (Harris) ran their 1000m in 1:04.6 and 37, and Ellerslie candidate Tristar (Tynan) took 1:04.2 and 37.

Run Don’t Walk (Rastrick) and Neighbourhood (Leighton) took 1:04.6 and 37 for their 1000m hitout and were followed by Sarten Memorial entry Sought After (L Singh) in 1:04.3 and 37.2. Also over 1000m, Diamond Jack (M Brosnan) returned 1:04.8 and 38.6, Sagunto (P McKay) 1:06.8 with fog preventing a sectional split, and Reputation (Mullineaux) and My Own Boat (Nishizuka) 1:10.4 and 40.2.

Time Traveller (Farr) worked over ground and was timed from the 1200m in 1:19.8, 1:04.1 and 38.2. Lingjun Xiongfeng (Mullineaux), who is making good progress ahead of a new campaign, was well held over the last 800m of his work in 59.8 and 42.5.

On the No. 1 sand Subiaco (R Cole) and Rocky Marciano (Parmar) cut out a smart 1000m in 1:02.4 and 36.5. Fantabulous (Bosson) and Quali Al Farrasha (Goindasamy) were more contained over the same distance in 1:08.5 and 38.2.

Shoes (Parmar) was well held over the same ground in 1:13.6 and 41.8, while Court Of Appeal (Allen) and Inspired By Art (Shafiq) finished off their work with 600m in 37.6.