Chiavari and Linwood looked on target for Saturday’s Rotorua meeting when galloping impressively at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Working 28 metres out on the course proper, which was just into the heavy range after overnight rain, Chiavari (Elliot) and Linwood (Harris) hit the line full of running at the end of 1000m in 1:07.4 and 600m in 39.8. Chiavari has trained on well since clearing maiden grade at Rotorua last month, while Linwood was impressive in her recent trial win. Both look capable of adding to trainer Cody Cole’s run of form.
Confiance (Wratten) and Lovearoadie (C Grylls) worked soundly over 1200m in 1:24.2, finishing off with 1000m in 1:08.9 and 600m in 40. Confiance was another to clear maiden grade at Rotorua at her last start, but she may run at New Plymouth on Saturday. Lovearoadie has been placed in all three starts this preparation and is close to a win.
Rotorua entries Chante Moi (Wratten) and Darci’s Angel (C Grylls), another two last-start Arawa Park winners from the Richardson/Norvall team, hit out well over 1200m in 1:23.3, 1:08 and 40.2. Karman Line (Osborne) and Watergate (Mxothwa) were strong throughout their 1000m hitout in 1:07 and 39.4. The Wexford Stables pair are both in good order for their weekend assignments.
Tevere (Mullineaux), a rival for Karman Line in the Rotorua Stakes, was paired with Naxos (Nishizuka) over 1000m in 1:11.4, hitting the line strongly after 600m in 39.8. Fly My Wey (M Brosnan) strode over 1200m in 1:26.2, 1:10.4 and 41.5, while Thatsallshewrote (Mullineaux) and Pure Fiction (Allen) left 1000m behind in 1:12.8 and 39.6.
Red Sniper (Allen) and Tregor (J Collett) worked against the rail in the 9.5-metre position, cutting out 1000m in 1:09.2 and 38.3 under a hold.
Elegant Lady (Bosson) underlined her Rotorua Cup prospects when paired with Devoted (Montes de Oca) over ground on the dead plough. They were timed from the 1200m in 1:18.8 and finished off well with a final 600m in 36.7. Elegant Lady is back at Te Akau’s main base after a rewarding South Island campaign and finished fourth in the Hawke’s Bay Cup when in transit north.
Last-start Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes winner Imunstoppable (P Singh) prepared for the Rotorua Stakes with a smart solo 1000m in 1:03.1 and 36.2, while stablemate Canny Man (Tynan) prepared for Rotorua with 1000m in 1:03.2 and 36.2.
Kai Moana (Elliot) and Mapalicious (Harris) cut out 1000m in 1:04.4 and 36.9, Winexpress (Tynan) ran the same distance in 1:04.2 and 37, and Loch Katrine (Sanson) and Vino Valentino (Tynan) prepared for Rotorua with 1000m in 1:04.2 and 36.8.
Pop The Bubbles (Bosson) strode over ground and was timed from the 1200m in 1:22.8 and 38.2. Midnight Monarch (Sanson) worked in from the 800m mark in 54 and 38.8. Last-start winner Merlotti (Sheehan) worked on the No. 1 sand, where she cut out 1000m in 1:04.8 and 37.1.