With a big contingent for Friday’s local meeting and many others preparing for upcoming racing elsewhere, there was plenty of action at the Matamata track on Tuesday morning.

On the plough, Cool ’N’ Fast (Hutchings) and Crown Princess (Bosson) shaped up well for Friday with smart work over 1000m in 1:03.8, hitting the line strongly after a final 600m in 36.6. They give Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson a strong hand in Friday’s Rating 65 1400.

Atmospheric (Harris) and Circus Dancer (Bragg) were in good form over 1200m in 1:19.2, the last 1000m in 1:03.7 and 600m in 36.8. They head to Trentham on Saturday for the Manawatu Cup and Eulogy Stakes, as does another from the in-form Cody Cole team, Latrelle (S Collett), who looked sharp for the Manawatu Challenge Stakes when cutting out 1000m in 1:04.5 and 36.9.

What You Wish For (C Grylls) prepared for the Manawatu Cup in company with Te Rapa Saturday entry Balance of Power (Pinn) over 1200m in 1:21.4, 1:05.8 and 37.6. Sixth Generation was in good form for the local meeting when trainer Jim Collett took him over 1000m in 1:03 and 36.2.

Matamata runner El Viento (Hutchings) and Te Rapa entry Hakkinen (Bosson) were paired over a strong 1000m in 1:03.6 and 36.4, while Chahoo (A Jones) and La Danza (S Weatherley) were well held over the same distance in 1:08.5 and 39.2, as was Mosinvader (Farr) in 1:09.3 and 39.8 and Genki (Tynan) in 1:10.8 and 40.5.

Grail Seeker (P Singh) wasn’t extended over 1000m in 1:07.8 and 37.9. She will continue her Telegraph preparation in Friday’s pre-race trial, as will Ellerslie candidates Towering Vision (Azrul) and He Who Dares (Bosson), who strode over 1000m in 1:07.3 and 39.2.

Lollapalooza (Paswan) and Buccino (Romero) got through 1000m in 1:06.2 and 37.7. New Zealand 1000 Guineas runner-up Lollapalooza will also trial on Friday ahead of the Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day, while Buccino looks well ahead of her fresh-up run on Friday.

Over ground The Nomad (Turner) and Savvysuper (S Collett) cut out their last 1200m in 1:21.2, 1:05.9 and 39.  In similar work She Suits Herself (Bosson) and Born To Be Royal (Pinn) took 1:22.5, 1:05.7 and 38.5.

Over 1000m Capulet (L Singh) recorded 1:07.5 and 37.4, Egyptian Queen (Hassman) 1:12.2 and 41.8, Inside Out (S Weatherley) and Amusement (A Jones) 1:11.4 and 40.2, Old Bill Bone (S Collett) and Silhouette (Harris) 1:06.2 and 38.4, Lotus (Romero) and Alizarin (Paswan) 1:09.2 and 39.2, Bow Hill (Harris) and Paddy the Farmer (S Collett) 1:07.9 and 39.6, St Kilda (Bragg) and Renovation (Turner) 1:06.6 and 37.4.

Alabama Lass (Winter) was timed over her last 800m in 52.4 and 37.2. She is making pleasing progress towards the Sistema Railway in late January.

On the course proper, which was rated Slow5 after nightly irrigation in recent days, Los Santos (S McKay) and Faultless (Parmar) galloped against the rail, where they cut out 1000m in 1:03 and got home strongly for a final 600m in 35.4. 

Wider out Te Rapa entry Pericles (Parmar) led Dahmers Kiss (Rastrick) at the end of 1200m in 1:20.2, the last 1000m in 1:06.6 and 600m in 39.1. Ribble (S Collett) prepared for her fresh-up assignment on Friday with 1000m in 1:05 and 39.2.

On the No. 1 sand, Matamata candidate Zantabulous (Bosson) went with Summer In London (Hassman) over a soundly run 1000m in 1:03.8 and 36.2. Santa Catalina (S McKay) continued her preparation for the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Final at Ellerslie on Boxing Day with an easy 1000m at the end of two rounds, recoding 1:13.6 and 37.9.

Legarto (Winter) looked bright in her work over 1000m in 1:07.9 and 37.8. She will be kept up to the mark with a trial on Friday ahead of the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day.

Savaglee (Parmar) continued his progress with striding work over 1000m in 1:12.4 and 40.8. While he is entered for the Telegraph and the Railway, summer plans are yet to be confirmed for last season's leading three-year-old.

Stablemates Romanoff (Lelu Singh) and Affirmative Action (Dellow) were allowed well-held work over 1000m in 1:16.2 and 43.8. The New Zealand 2000 Guineas quinella pair are working their way back to fitness, with Affirmative Action penciled in for the Auckland Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and Romanoff heading to Trentham for the Levin Classic on January 3.