Sassy Lass confirmed her fitness ahead of Saturday’s Counties Cup when she worked stylishly at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Galloping on the plough, which was not conducive to quick times earlier in the session, Sassy Lass (Farr) looked the part in her solo hitout over ground and was timed from the 1200m in 1:19.3. She travelled strongly throughout, looking as though she could have gone faster than 1:04.8 for the last 1000m and 38.9. for the final 600m.
The O’Sullivan/Scott-trained mare was an eye-catching third in her first start over ground this preparation three weeks ago and the timing is right for Saturday’s feature, when rain-affected ground should also be to her advantage.
Race rival Livid Sky (Fawcett) was also in good form as she and her Stephen Autridge-trained stablemate Afterglo (Sanson) were paired over 1000m in 1:07.5 and 600m in 37.5. After placings at her first two starts this campaign, Livid Sky will appreciate the step up in distance, while Afterglo also looks well ahead of her Rating 65 1600m assignment at Pukekohe.
Atmospheric (Harris) and The Prophet (Turner), rivals in the Rating 75 2100m at Pukekohe, caught the eye as they got through 1200m in 1:20.1, 1:04.3 and the final 600m impressively in 37. Also over ground, Counties Cup pair What You Wish For (C Grylls) and Midnight Blue (Berge) did well to record 1:19.2, 1:04 and 37.5, while Astoria Brooke (Turner) and Diomedes (Pertab) covered the same distance earlier in the session in 1:23.2, 1:06 and 37.8.
Wanganui weekend entry Fosse (Ritchie) cut out 1000m in 1:03.2 and 36.5, good time even allowing the plough was running more quickly by then. Four Square Pete (Turner), another heading to Wanganui, also put plenty into his 1000m hitout in 1:02.8 and 36.5.
Pukekohe two-year-old candidate Lumumba (Harris) went with Old Bill Bone (Goodwin) over 1000m in 1:06.8 and 38. Also earlier over the same ground, Marokopa Falls (Melvin) and She Means Business (Hassman) left 1000m behind in 1:06.2 and 36.9.
Paddy The Farmer (S Collett) and Sperlari (Bragg) also did well in their 1000m hitout in 1:06.7 and 36.8, as did With A Vengeance (C Grylls) and Power And Vision (Amit) in 1:05.6 and 36.8.
Others responsible for smart work later in the session included Chante Moi (C Grylls) over 1000m in 1:02.7 and 36.5, Hakkinen (Hassman) and Levakia (Fawcett) returned 1:03.8 and 36.8, and Miriam (Sanson) too 1:03.8 and 36.9.
Social Climber (Fawcett) cut out a solo 1000m in 1:04.2 and 37.2, The Nomad (Bragg) recorded 1:06.8 and 38.2, and Renovation (Turner) and St Kilda (S Collett) were well held in 1:10.6 and 39.2.
On the No. 1 sand, Qali Al Farrasha (C Grylls) and Zantabulous (Hassman) prepared for Pukekohe over 1200m in 1:18.6, 1:07.2 and the final 600m in a smart 36.2. Wanganui entry Spencer (S McKay) was paired with Santa Catalina (C Grylls) in a truly run 1200m in 1:16.8, 1:01.6 and 36.6.
Class mare Legarto (Winter) was well contained as she strode over the last 1000m of her work in 1:08.4 and the last 600m in 40.2. She appears fully recovered from the setback that interrupted her spring campaign and is on target for the TAB Mufhasa Classic at Trentham early next month.
On the course proper, which just had the jar out of it 18 metres out, New Plymouth Friday entry Gossip (Hashizume) got through her work well with Live On Air (Olney) over 1000m in 1:04.5 and 37.2.
Two more from the Danica Guy team, Licorice (C Grylls) and an unnamed Brutal gelding, didn’t waste any time over 1000m in 1:04.2 and 37. Outback Opal (Hashizume) did good stayer’s work over 1200m in 1:22.4, 1:07.5 and 38.8.