Promising three-year-old Romilly looked ready for the step up to stakes company this weekend when she galloped impressively at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

Working on the plough, Romilly (Halliday) was paired with Zacabasso (Beemud) over a sharp 1000m in 1:01.9, finishing off with a final 600m in 35.8. Romilly cleared maiden grade at her second start earlier this month and is entered for the O’Learys Fillies Stakes at Wanganui on Saturday.

Another last-start maiden graduate, Checkmate (Leighton), signalled his readiness for age-group racing as he and Fashion Royale (Farr) cut out 1000m in 1:03.8 and 37. Checkmate is in good order for Saturday’s Eagle Memorial at Ellerslie on Saturday, while Fashion Royale is likely to make her debut at the same meeting.

Tanganyika (Farr) and Texas Hold ’Em (Leighton), two more from the in-form Wexford team heading to Ellerslie this weekend, also impressed with the way they worked over 1000m in 1:02.8 and 36.2.

Star Shadow (Bosson) and Celestial Wonder (Allen) weren’t extended in their work as they left 1000m behind in 1:06.2 and 37. Star Shadow is entered for the Wanganui fillies’ feature, as is Renovations (Harris), who was paired with Kai Moana (Parmar) over 1000m in 1:06.4 and 37.4.

Levakia (Winter) and Zantabulous (Bosson) strode over 1200m in 1:20.2, quickening from the 1000 mark to record 1:03.8 and 36.2 for the final 600m. Levakia will be an interesting runner when she steps up to 1500m in Saturday’s Eagle Memorial.

Ma Baker (Prendergast) had pace on from the 1000m, cutting out the distance in 1:02.6 and finishing off with 600m in 37.7. Brian Lamont (Hillis) wasn’t chasing the clock over 1200m in 1:30.2, 1000m in 1:12.4 and 600m in 41.2. Royal Ace (Wratten) was allowed an easy 1000m in 1:08.2 and 41.