Te Rapa weekend rivals Jolted and Livid Sky drew attention to their prospects with sound work at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Most fast work took place 28 metres out on the course proper, where Jolted (Turner) had early use of the track, striding over 1200m in 1:24.7, 1000m in 1:07.5 and finishing off strongly with 600m in 38.5. The Kelso-trained mare has trained on well from her last-start second at Tauranga and should be hard to beat in the Rating 75 2100m at Te Rapa on Sunday.
The Stephen Autridge-trained Livid Sky (Sanson) worked later in the session, cutting out her last 1000m in 1:07 and 600m in 39.1. With wins in two of her last three starts, the Proisir mare can confirm a start in the Travis Stakes back at Te Rapa later in the month if she runs up to that form on Sunday.
Lovearoadie (Fawcett) shaped up well for Sunday with 1000m in 1:08.3 and 600m in 38.5.
The Richardson/Norvall-trained stablemates Lady Grey (Wratten) and Sorghaghtani (Paswan) also looked on target for Te Rapa as they cut out 1200m in 1:24.6, 1:09 and 41.2.
Mehzebeen (Bosson) prepared for Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Cup at Trentham when she and Te Rapa entry Balance Of Power (Amin) strode over 1200m in 1:24.3, 1:07.5 and 39.2. Court Of Appeal (Melvin) followed her stablemates to cover the same ground in 1:24.8, 1:08 and 39.4.
Trentham entry Sperlari (Harris) was partnered by Luna Star (Turner) over a well-run 1000m in 1:07 and 38.7, while Little Bit Of Love (L Singh) and Karman Line (Tynan) tuned up for the open 1400m at Te Rapa over the same distance in 1:09.2 and 39.
Also over 1000m, Grace ’N’ Glory (M Brosnan) returned 1:11.5 and 41.6, Dua Dance (Hashizume) took 1:09.6 and 39.2, Ever Charm (C Grylls) 1:10.6 and 39.4, Bella Voce (Bosson) and Celestial Wonder (Melvin) 1:08.2 and 38.2, King’s English (C Grylls) and When Stars Align (Bosson) 1:11.7 and 38.2, Power Of Three (Harris) and Secret Lies (McCall) 1:10.8 and 39, Cletus (Sanson) 1:10.8 and 42, Phoebe Buffay (Osborne) 1:11.2 and 41.6, and Smokeshow (Tynan) and She’s All That (L Singh) 1:06.8 and 40.2.
Amongst those to do quieter work were Grail Seeker (Tynan), well held over 1000m in 1:15.2 and 44.8 ahead of a likely trip to Sydney for next week’s All-Aged Stakes.
On Monday morning Australian Oaks candidate Dubai Gold (Nishizuka) was paired with Phantom Dragon (Rastrick) right-handed 28 metres out the soft course proper, cutting out 1200m in 1:23.3, with the last 1000m in 1:07.8 and 600m in 37.6. The Pam Gerard-trained filly, who has been renamed Dubai Goldrush across the Tasman, was due to land in Sydney late Tuesday. She has trained on pleasingly from her second placing to Leica Lucy in the New Zealand Oaks.