Legarto showed she was well on target for spring feature racing with a stylish gallop at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Legarto had her regular raceday jockey Ryan Elliot in the saddle when she and Vendabelle (Winter) were paired in a solid hitout on the No. 1 sand. The Kelso-trained pair were timed from the 1000m mark and ran the full distance in 1:03.9, cutting out the final 600m in a smart 36.2.
Legarto is currently the $4 equal favourite with Grail Seeker for next month’s Group One season-opener, the Proisir Plate, and her preparation will step up another notch with a pre-raceday trial at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Others to gallop on the No. 1 sand included Los Santos (S Collett) and Don Pauly (Parmar), likely runners at Taupo on Sunday week, who left 1000m behind in 1:05.5 and 37.6. Their stablemate Rocky Marciano (S McKay) went solo over the same distance in 1:07.8 and 38.2, while the promising maiden Supremely (Turner) was well held over 800m in 57.2 and 42.4.
After a break in the weather the course proper also provided reasonably good footing, with the markers set at 18m and the going in the soft range.
Working right-handed, Te Rapa weekend entries Caitlyns Wish (Sanson) and Saint Brigid (Turner) were timed over their last 600m in 38.8. Open sprint candidate Caitlyn’s Wish was brave in her last-start placing at Otaki, while Saint Brigid brings useful form to Saturday’s Rating 65 1600.
Race rival Jaffira (Tynan) went with Te Rapa form runner Ribkraka (Mool) in sound work which they completed with 600m in 39.4. Te Atatu Dream (Loki), another Wexford runner at Te Rapa, followed her stablemates with a final 600m in 39.8.
In-form Te Rapa maiden candidate Litteral (Fawcett) was paired with Quintessa (Bosson), working away steadily from the winning post to complete 1200m in 1:29.8 and completing the work with 600m in 38.8.
Alabama Lass (Bosson) got through her paces well with solo work over 1000m, the last 600m in 39.2. She will also line up in a trial at Te Rapa on Saturday as she progresses towards a Melbourne spring campaign.
Baronet (Danis) and Malborough Bay (Bosson) prepared for the weekend with a final 600m in 39.6. Te Rapa maiden stayers’ candidates Khando (S Collett) and Vougeot (Cameron) strode over ground, recording 1:27.6 for 1200m and 42 for the last 600m.
Lodi Dodi (Fawcett) and Lollapalooza (C Grylls) promising three-year-old fillies in the Richardson/Norvall team, finished off their work with a well-held 600m in 41.8. In solo gallops, stablemates Social Climber (Fawcett) and Rocababy (Romero) prepared for Te Rapa with respective final 600m times of 40.2 and 40.8.
Malleable (Parmar) and Kaz Caz (Nishizuka) were timed for their last 600m in 39.2, while Fleeting Star (Holliday) and recent trial winner Marzenie (Butler) took 40.2 and Licorice (C Grylls) and Terrific Guy (Turner) were not asked for a lot in returning 43.5.
On the No. 2 sand, Te Rapa open 1600m entry Diomedes (K Pertab) was accompanied by Cambridge Friday candidate Lucky Coral (L Pertab) over 1000m in 1:07.4 and 39.2.
Te Rapa maiden runner Ebony Gem (S Weatherley) and Nasha Mala (Parvee) cut out 1000m in 1:05.4 and 37.2, while The Prophet (S Collett) was unextended over the same distance in 1:12.6 and 41.2.