Outback Opal shaped as a likely improver for Ruakaka this weekend when she worked well at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
During a very quiet training session, Outback Opal was ridden by her trainer Mark Brosnan over ground on the No. 2 sand, picking up momentum as she went and running the last 1200m in 1:17.8. She recorded 1:04 for the last 1000m and 37.5 for the final 600m.
Outback Opal didn’t flatter on her trip north a fortnight ago, but she looks well and judging by her latest work she could well turn that form around in Saturday’s open middle-distance event.
Reptak (Pratap) prepared for his Ruakaka assignment on the course proper, where the going was heavy with the markers set at 18 metres. Working right-handed, he was timed from the winning post to cut out 1200m in 1:32.8, steadily increasing the tempo and finishing off with 600m in 40.5.
The O’Sullivan/Scott-trained gelding has started only twice since his fresh-up win at Ellerslie in April, but doesn’t have to improve a lot from his last-start fifth to get amongst the action on Saturday.
On the No. 1 sand, Did The Trick looked sharp when partnered by his trainer Wayne Hillis over 1000m in 1:07.2, quickening from the 600m to cut out the final section in 38.4. A last-start third was a big improvement and his work suggests he could well go on with it.
Class act Legarto (Winter) made good use of the improved track condition to stretch out in a well-held 1000m in 1:11.5 and 600m in 42.2. The Kelso-trained mare is equal favourite at $7 on the TAB’s Tarzino Trophy and looks very well in the early stages of her new season preparation.
Stablemate Alabama Lass (Winter) was also allowed to quicken in her work, stepping out on the No. 2 sand. She worked away very steadily from the 1000m mark to run the full distance in 1:20.2 and breezed in from the 600m mark in 43.6.
After capping her three-year-old season with a Listed sprint win at Flemington in late March, Legarto has a return to Melbourne pencilled in. The Moir Stakes on the same day as the Tarzino Trophy, September 6 is her most likely initial target. She has developed impressively in her time away from the track.
Sonoran (Boyack) appeared to be making good progress for a return to racing when striding out over 1000m in 1:06.6 and 39.4. Mali Ston (S Weatherley) was timed from the 800m in 58.6 and 42.6 as he continued his preparation for spring racing in company with Theodore (Parvee).