Livid Sky looked sharp for her home track assignment in Saturday’s Team Wealleans Matamata Cup when she galloped stylishly on Tuesday morning.

After a brief respite in the weather, conditions were slightly improved on the course proper, where Livid Sky (Sanson) and stablemate Loch Katrine (Hyde-Richards) worked against the rail in the true position. The Stephen Autridge-trained pair cut out a smart 1000m in 1:04.5 and kept up to their work 36.7 for the final 600m. Even allowing that they had the advantage of fresh inside ground, it was very good work.

Livid Sky, a past winner on the track, has trained on well from her bold fresh-up run for third at Ellerslie a fortnight ago and should be suited by the 1600m of Saturday’s feature.  

All other course proper work took place 26 metres out, where the going was testing. Due to poor light early in the session, the timing of some gallops was restricted.

Sonoran (C Grylls) and Tenfoot Tall (Fawcett) were paired in a solid 1000m hitout, recording 1:08.6 and completing their work with 600m in 39.4. Sonoran handled heavy conditions to clear maiden grade at the last Matamata meeting, while Tenfoot Tall also has form in similar conditions on his home track.

My Lips Are Sealed (Bosson) prepared for the Matamata Cup with a truly run 1000m in 1:07.2, while El Viento (C Grylls) followed in 1:09.2. Sectional times could not be taken for either gallop, nor for Age Of Discovery (Bosson) and Hakkinen (C Grylls) when they cut out 1000m in 1:07.4, or for Bellezor (Sandeep) and Principled (Parmar) over the same ground in 1:10.2.

In-form stablemates Levakia (Fawcett) and Litteral (Winter) had early use of the ground when they worked well over 1000m in 1:07.2 and 600m in 39.6. Conversely Afterglo (Sanson) did well late in the session to cut out 1000m in 1:07.6 and 39.2.

Midnight Blue (Hassman) and What You Wish For (Bosson), fresh-up runners in the Matamata Cup, were paired over 1000m in 1:07.3 and 39.4. Sicillian (Tynan) and Luvabeel (Toko) ran the same distance in 1:10.6 and 41.2, while recent impressive debut winner Places To Be (Sheehan) was not chasing time over 1000m in 1:13.3.

Rareza (S Collett), who runs in the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes at Hawera, and home track entry Latrelle (Cameron), were not timed but travelled well to the end of their 1000m hitout.

Over ground Vendabelle (Fawcett) and Accidental Tourist (Bosson) got through their last 1200m in 1:21.2, with the last 1000m in 1:05.8 and 600m in 39.5. Balance Of Power (Hassman) strode over 1200m in 1:21.5 and 1000m in 1:06.1.

Matamata Cup entry Sassy Lass (Tynan) worked on the No. 2 sand where she went solo over 1200m in 1:18.4 and 600m in 38.2.