Anela looked ready to quit maiden grade when she galloped impressively at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Working right-handed on the course proper, where the going was heavy out wide, Anela (P Singh) strode away from the winning post and maintained her momentum to complete 1200m in 1:21.5 and 600m in 40.4. The El Roca mare put up a big effort for second fresh-up at Te Rapa late last month and returns there on the weekend with a massive chance.
Highlighter (Rastrick), a deserved winner on the same Taumarunui Cup programme, indicated she had trained on well since when unextended over 1200m in 1:29.8, quickening for a final 600m in 41.2. Te Rapa maiden stayer candidate Onlywords To Trade (Parmar) worked well to shade race rival Shimmering (Allen) at the end of 1200m in 1:28, with the final 600m in an impressive 38.2.
Aromatic (Bosson) looked bright in her work with Grace ’N’ Grey (Gujar), finishing off with 600m in 41.2, while Te Rapa entries So Gorgeous (Yuki) and Key Largo (Fawcett) completed their work with 600m in a sound 38.4.
Farrenc (P Singh) prepared for Te Rapa with a final 600m in 39.4. Major Major (Miller) and Bodacious (B Grylls) strode over 1200m in 1:29.6 and 41.6.
Early fast work took place on the plough until persistent showers knocked it out. Lex Rex (Tynan) shaped up well for Te Rapa over 1000m in 1:03 and 36.8, race rival Magic Ace (Farr) also worked well over 1000m in 1:03.5 and 37.2, while Winexpress (Rastrick) ran the same trip in 1:04.2 and 37.8.
Ess Vee Are (S Weatherley) prepared for his first-up run over 1600m at Te Rapa with a deceptive 1000m in 1:03.5 and 36.4. The Mighty Spar (Allen) and Prismatic (Sheehan) were not after time over 1000m in 1:07.8 and 38.3, while Cognito (Allen) and Balance Of Power (Bosson) got through similar work to record 1:07.7 and 38.1.
Petrucci (Bosson) cut out a tidy 800m in 48.4, the last 600m in 36.1, and Rhetorical (Bosson) covered the same distance in 50.2 and 36.4.
On the No. 2 sand Te Rapa entries Breckon Power (B Grylls) and Nyah (S Weatherley) were timed over their last 1000m in 1:04.2 and 37.
Legarto (Winter), looking bright after her trial last week, worked on the No. 1 sand where she was well contained over 1000m in 1:12.1 and 42.8.