With more than half the Proisir Plate field prepared at the Matamata training centre, most interest during Tuesday’s trackwork session centred on runners in Saturday’s season-opening Group One race.
Legarto had raceday rider Vinnie Colgan in the saddle when she galloped on the No. 1 sand, completing a solo 1000m in 1:02.2 and finishing off with 600m in 35.4. The Ken and Beve Kelso-trained mare goes into the Ellerslie feature in capital order for her fresh-up assignment.
Stablemate Alabama Lass (Bosson), whose weekend mission is the Gr. 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley, also looked right on target when cutting out 800m in 52, the final 600m in 36.2. She was booked on a flight to Melbourne on Wednesday morning, having won her preparatory trial and set to be reunited on Saturday with Craig Williams, who partnered her in her last-start win at Flemington in March.
Numerous other gallops took place on the course proper, where Wexford Stables’ Proisir Plate quartet all got through pleasing work. Defending title-holder Grail Seeker (P Singh), co-favourite in pre-post markets with Legarto, was allowed easy work over 1000m, with her final 600m taking 42.1.
Waitak was ridden by raceday rider Craig Grylls, striding over 1000m and completing his task with 600m in 40.6. He was followed by Checkmate (Hashizume), whose final 600m took 40.8, while Tomadachi was let off with pacework. “All four of our runners are sound and well,” commented co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan.
Te Akau’s Proisir Plate duo Qali Al Farrasha (Bosson) and Quintessa (Melvin) were paired over a soundly-run 1000m, which they completed with 600m in a respectable 39.8. Stablemates and Gold Trail Stakes rivals In Haste (Bosson) and Queen’s Evidence (Doyle) finished their work with 600m in 40.6.
El Viento (Doyle) ran his last 600m in 40.5, while Carsolio (Colgan) followed in 40.3. Fellow Ellerslie entries Cool ’N’ Fast (Colgan) and Age Of Discovery (C Grylls) ran their last 600m in 39.7, while Balance Of Power (Bosson) was timed over 1200m in 1:24.9 and 40.4.
On the No. 2 sand the Cody Cole-trained Proisir Plate entry Navigator was ridden by raceday jockey Matt Cameron in his work with Atmospheric (Harris), completing 800m in 51 and 600m in 37.3. Sir Colin Meads Trophy candidate Landlock (S Collett) was accompanied by Carajillo (Bragg) over 1000m in 1:05.2 and 600m in 37.2. Stablemates The Prophet (S Collett) and Dance For Her (Cameron) strode over 1000m in 1:06 and 38.5.
Matamata’s remaining Proisir Plate entry, Foxbridge Plate winner Sterling Express (Hashizume), strode through over 1200m on the course proper but was not timed. He has satisfied trainer Mark Brosnan with his progress since Te Rapa.
The Richardson/Noirvall-trained Lollapalooza and Lodi Dodi were ridden by their respective Gold Trail Stakes riders Vinnie Colgan and Craig Grylls in sound work together, the last 600m in 39.2. Stablemates Pleasing Star (Holliday) and Cosmopolitan (Butler) ran their last 600m in 40.4, while Lotus (Romero) and Zacabasso (Butler) took 41, and Social Climber (Fawcett) 40.2.
Others timed on the course proper were Sweet But Psycho (Tynan), who completed 1200m in 1:27.8 and 42.2, She’s All That (Farr), who returned 40.8 for her final 600m, and Reptak (Tynan) 41.6.