A number of horses with feature engagements this weekend enhanced their prospects at Matamata on Tuesday.
After 15mm of rain on Monday, the course proper 20 metres out was soft.
Campionessa (Bosson) shaped up well to defend her Cal Isuzu Stakes title when she and Our Milly Bee (Melvin) were paired in solid work over 1000m in 1:05.8, finishing off with 600m in 37.5. Campionessa’s spring campaign was hindered by venue changes, but she appears to be in good condition ahead of Saturday’s Te Rapa meeting, where last-start placegetter Our Milly Bee is entered for the Dunstan Stayers’ Qualifier.
The best time over 1000m was returned by Te Rapa entries My Annie Belle (Turner) and What You Wish For (Bosson), who cut out the distance in 1:04.3, with the last 600m in 38. My Annie Belle is on the cusp of making the field for Saturday’s Rating 75 sprint, while What You Wish For is entered for the J Swap Sprint.
Another for that race, Karman Line (Stott), was accompanied by Miss Bo Peep (Farr) over 1000m in 1:06.6 and 39.2, while stablemates Kelly Coe (Tynan) and Little Bit Of Love (Mullineaux) were strong over the same ground in 1:05.8 and 38.4.
Waikato Cup candidate Sassy Lass (Farr) worked over ground and was timed over the last 1200m in 1:19.4, 1:05.5 and 39.2. Race rival Ess Vee Are (D Weatherley) got through a similar task to record 1:22.3, 1:07.9 and 40.
Damask Rose (Bosson) looked sharp ahead of her resuming run at Te Rapa when she and racerival Maracatu (Pinn) cut out 1000m in 1:07 and 37.2. Kealoha (Parmar) and Lovely Friends (Sandeep) worked well over 1000m in 1:05.6 and 37.8, while Petrucci (Miller) recorded 1:07.4 and 38.8.
Also over 1000m, Imunstoppable (Farr) was strong in a solo 1:05.8 and 38.6, Why Not Me (Parmar) and Khando (Fawcett) took 1:06.8 and 39.4, Reggae Queen (Parmar) 1:07 and 38.2, Sabrina Hall (Farr) 1:08.8 and 39, and Livid Sky (Sanson) and Kananaskis (Bosson) 1:06 and 38.6.
Tauranga Friday runner Mapalicious (Harris) and Dudaday (Turner), entered for Trentham on Sunday, were paired in a strong 1000m in 1:05.6 and 38.2. Tears Of Victory (Sanson) prepared for Tauranga over 1000m in 1:05.9 and 38.2, while Te Rapa entry Rocababy (Halliday) took 1:05.4 and 38.5.
Te Rapa feature candidates Reputation (Nishizuka) and Lingjun Xiongfeng (Allen) left 1000m behind in 1:07.9 and 39.2. Tianzi (S Collett) and Reimagined (Butler) weren’t after time over 1000m in 1:10.8 and 39.9, nor were stablemates Scouser (Harris) and Power Of Three (S Collett) as they recorded 1:10.4 and 39.6, and Astoria Brook (Turner) and Secret Life (Butler) in 1:11.5 and 39.8.
Bea A Roca (A Jones) ran a solo 1000m in 1:11.4 and 41.8, while Luminous (K Pertab) went with Evelyn Rush (Harris) over the same ground in 1:10.4 and 39.5. Affirmative Action (Stott) and Cricket (Hashizume) were timed from the 800m in 54 and 39.3.
Inca Gold (Pinn) and Dujardin (Bosson) cut out 1000m in 1:09.2 and 39.3, Naxos (Nishizuka) and Sonorous (Allen) took 1:10.4 and 39.5, while Dragon Bubbles (Nishizuka) finished off well over 1200m in 1:26.4, 1:11.2 and 40.2.