A strong contingent being aimed at Saturday’s Waikato Cup meeting attracted most attention during a busy training session at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
The majority of fast work took place on the plough, however amongst those to gallop on the No. 1 sand, Qali Al Farrasha impressed in her preparation for the Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa. Ridden by raceday jockey Opie Bosson, Qali Al Farrasha was accompanied by Zantabulous (Melvin) in a truly run 1000m in 1:03.2, finishing off with 600m in 36.6.
The Walker/Bergerson-trained mare has made good progress since her decisive Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes win and will again be favoured by the weight-for-age conditions in Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature.
Stablemate a possible race rival Captured By Love (Bosson) and fellow Te Rapa candidate Dream of the Moon (Melvin) had early use of the plough, which was on the dead side, cutting out 1000m in 1:05.3 and 36.5. Captured By Love will also be entered for Saturday’s J Swap Sprint.
The likely favourite for that race, Smart Love (Farr) and rival Checkmate (P Singh) were paired in a tidy 1000m hitout in 1:04.6 and 36.5. Smart Love takes an impeccable formline into her first black-type test, while Checkmate is starting to show the benefit of a patient early season campaign.
Wexford’s Waikato Cup candidate Sassy Lass (Farr) worked solo as usual and without doing a lot still impressed as she strode over ground, timed from the 1200m in 1:24.8, 1:07.9 and 39.2. Weekend rival Midnight Blue (C Grylls) went with Hakkinen (Azrul) ground with more speed on to cut out the last 1200m in 1:19.8, 1:04.2 and a very respectable final 600m in 36.6.
La Reina (C Grylls) shaped as a likely improver at Tauranga on Friday when she and Palici (Nishizuka) left 1000m behind in 1:06.1 and 38. Over the same distance Permissive (Paswan) and Fleeting Star (Romero) took 1:04.5 and 38.2, Lux Libertas (C Grylls) 1:05.3 and 37.7, Mood Painter (Rastrick) and Lady Janice (Dellow) 1:07.8 and 38.4, and Basel Warrior (J Collett) 1:08.6 and 39.2.
Sperlari (Harris) prepared for Tauranga in company with The Nomad (Turner), striding over 1200m in 1:24.6, 1:09.2 and 40.8, while stablemates Concoction (Bragg) and Crimson Sky (S Collett) weren’t extended over 1000m in 1:11.2 and 40.5.
Cool ’N’ Fast (Danis) and Crown Princess (Azrul) had more speed on over 1000m in 1:04.2 and 36.5, as did To Bravery Born (Bosson) and Bellish Boy (C Grylls) when recording a smart 1:03.5 and 36.7. Te Rapa entry Afterglo (Sanson) had plenty in reserve after 1000m in 1:12.4 and 37.2.
Santa Catalina (C Grylls) and Los Santos (Parmar) looked bright in their work over 1000m in 1:03.8 and 36.2, while stablemate Sagunto (S McKay) finished off with 800m in 51.2 and 38.4. King of the North (Mullineaux) was timed over 1200m in 1:27.3, 1:09.5 and 40.8.
Amongst those to work over 1000m, Romilly (Romero) recorded 1:04.5 and 38.2, When Stars Align (Bosson) and Thumbelina (Hassman) took 1:04.2 and 1:04.2 and 37, Absolutelyfabulous (Escotet) and Alizarin (Paswan) 1:06.5 and 39, and Volunteer (Wratten) and Stay Frosty (Pashwan) 1:06 and 39.3.
Levakia (Fawcett) and Vendabelle (Winter) got through striding work over ground, timed respectively for their final 1200m in 1:27.8 and 40.2 and 1:29.5 and 40.5. Circus Dancer (Bragg) was allowed an easy 1000m in 1:11.2 and 41.8.
Te Rapa juvenile entry Sword of Stars (C Grylls) was paired in tidy work with Arctic Jewel (Bosson) over 800m in 50.2 and 36.4. Over the same ground Oneira (S Collett) and Old Bill Bone (Goodwin) recorded 54.4 and 39.2. Fosse (Ritchie) looked bright in easy work, the last 600m in 40.8.
On the course proper, where the going was good wide out, New Zealand 1000 Guineas runner-up Lollapalooza (C Grylls) and Buccino (Berge) worked well over 1000m in 1:09.2 and 40.2. Lollapalooza is scheduled to run next in the Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.