Legarto was the standout among a number of horses getting through their major gallops ahead of Saturday’s Tarzino Trophy at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
After 16mm of overnight rain, most fast work took place on the course proper, where the going was heavy 22 metres out.
Legarto (P Turner) was paired with race rival Aromatic (Kennedy) over 1000m, gaining momentum to run the trip in 1:11.4 and finishing off with a final 600m in 38.8. Legarto had the measure of her gallop mate over the final stages, giving every indication that she’s ready to start where she left off in the autumn.
With first use of the track, Foxbridge Plate winner Dragon Leap (Rastrick) was his usual laid-back self as he got through a solo 1000m in 1:09.9 and 39.1. It was good work by the big gelding and left no doubt that he has trained on well from his Te Rapa win.
Skew Wiff (Bosson) and Romancing The Moon (Gujar) put plenty into the early stages of their hitout, recording 1:08.7 for 1000m and finishing off well enough over the last 600m in 40.1. Skew Wiff also appears to have made good progress since her close second in the Foxbridge Plate, while Romancing the Moon is likely to open her season at Taupo next week. Stablemate Brando (Bosson) did well later in the session to complete 1000m well-held in 1:09.1 and 40.2.
Matamata’s remaining Tarzino Trophy candidate, Pier (D Weatherley), went with Gold Trail Stakes entry Tulsi (S Weatherley), cutting out their 1000m in 1:10.2 and 40.2.
Star two-year-old Tokyo Tycoon (Bosson) shaped up well his season opener in Saturday’s El Roca Sir Colin Meads Trophy when he and Fashion Shoot (Kennedy) left 1000m behind in 1:10.4 and 40.8. Promising filly Oneira was ridden by her Gold Trail Stakes rider Ryan Elliot when she and Quintessa (Kennedy) were well held over 1000m in 1:14.4 and 41.6.
Impressive Taupo trial winner Our Alley Cat (Cox), who may head to Ruakaka on Saturday, wasn’t pressured over the final stages of 1000m in 1:10.8 and 42. Gold Trail Strakes entry Loch Katrine (S Weatherley) went with Helly Belly (L Singh) over the same distance in 1:11.2 and 40.6, while Lovearoadie (Kareem) wasn’t pressured to return 1:12.8 and 43.
Rezeki (T Harris) and Cork (Yuki) cut out 1000m in 1:09.2 and 40.4, Campionessa (Kamaruddin) and Fay Khan It (Parmar) did well to record 1:08.5 and 40, Poser (K Pertab) and Rising Ruler (L Pertab) returned 1:10.9 and 41.5, and Zantabulous (Parmar) and Belle of the Ball (Kamaruddin) took 1:11.4 and 38.8.
Prise De Fer (Leighton), who resumes over 1600m at Hastings, did even work over 1200m in 1:25.2, with the last 1000m in 1:10 and 600m in 42.4. Also over ground, Monza (Leighton) and Vintage Bardot (Fawcett) clocked 1:25.8, 1:10.2 and 41.6, So The Fox (J Collett) 1:27.4, 1:12.5 and 42.4, and Soprano Supreme (Bosson) and Fierce Flight (Kennedy) 1:22.4 and 40.5.
Over 1000m Extortion (T Harris) took 1:10.9 and 39.8, Diomedes (Plimmer) 1:11.2 and 41.8, Stokes (K Pertab) 1:10.8 and 41.2 and Hayley (Mullineaux) 1:11.5 and 43.
Of those to gallop on the inside tracks, Ruakaka entry Bit Nosy caught the eye when his trainer Wayne Hillis brought him home from the 600m in 35.8 on the No. 2 sand.