MATAMATA

Horses preparing for feature events at Te Rapa on Saturday were in the spotlight on a damp but busy trackwork session at Matamata on Tuesday.

Most of the action was on the course proper, which was heavy with the markers set at 22 metres.

Wexford Stables pair Ohope Wins (Doyle) and Yamato Satona (Loki) looked on target for their Te Rapa three-year-old assignments as they strode over ground and were timed from the 1200m in 1:21.6, the last 1000m in 1:07.1 and 600m in 39. Ellis Fillies’ Classic candidate Ohope Wins has trained on pleasingly from her New Year’s Day win at Ellerslie, while Yamato Satona, who runs in the Waikato Guineas, also looks fit and well after his late-closing effort at Ellerslie in mid-January. 

Legarto was ridden by her new raceday pilot Opie Bosson as she prepared for the Herbie Dyke Stakes with stablemate Levakia (Fawcett). In impressive work, the Kelso pair cut out 1200m in 1:19.2, 1:05.4 and 37.4, good time in ground that was beginning to open up. Levakia is at peak fitness for her Rating 75 2100 assignment at Te Rapa.

Te Akau’s Waikato Guineas pair Towering Vision (Bosson) and One True King (Hutchings) also shaped up well when working over ground. They were timed over 1200m in 1:22.4, 1:06.8 and the final 600m in a smart 37.5. Stablemate Born To Be Royal (Bosson) prepared for the Ellis Classic with Passion ’N’ Pride (Hutchings), timed from the 1200m in 1:22.6, 1:06.2 and 38.

Savaglee (Parmar) worked well ahead of his resuming run in the BCD Group Sprint when paired with Suit Yourself (Rastrick) over 1200m in 1:22.4, quickening to run the last 1000m in 1:06.5 and 600m in 37.5. The classy colt has tightened up well with two trials ahead of first raceday start in 11 months.

Race rival Sterling Express did well late in the session with trainer Mark Brosnan on board as he cut out 1000m in 1:06.8 and 39. The improvement he would have taken from his fresh-up sixth in the Railway makes him the value bet in the big Te Rapa sprint.

Te Rapa entries Now Not Never (Nishizuka) and Aspiritta (Rastrick) covered 1200m in 1:22.1, 1:07.5 and 38.9, and were followed by Richter Scale (Parmar) in 1:21.5, 1:06.8 and 39.5. Over the same ground Crackercol (P Singh) and Genki (Tynan) returned 1:21.2, 1:06.2 and 38.4.

Qali Al Farrasha (Melvin) and Paravane (Hassman) were paired over 1000m in 1:08.4 and 38.2, while Dudaday (Prastiyou) and The Nomad (Harris) ran the same trip in 1:07.5 and 37.8.

Tristar (Tynan) and Track Tester (L Singh) impressed in their work ahead of Te Rapa as they cut out 1000m later in the session in 1:07.2 and 37.5. Cosmopolitan (Garcia) and Curzon Park (Paswan) weren’t extended over 1000m in 1:09.2 and 41.

Luz Libertas (Mullineaux), who runs at next week’s Matamata Breeders’ Stakes meeting, had it easy over 1000m in 1:14.8 and 44.7, as did Waitak (P Singh) who strolled over 1000m in 1:17.4 and 45.4. He has been freshened ahead of the Otaki-Maori WFAS Classic at Ellerslie on a fortnight.

On the No.1 sand, Te Rapa entry Sarti (Winter) was partnered by Up With Ace (Goodwin) over a truly run 1000m in 1:03.6 and 36.8. Ellis Classic entry Acer (C Grylls) wasn’t pushed over 1200m in 1:25.2, 1:09.6 and 40, while stablemate Hankee Alpha (C Grylls) left 1000m behind in 1:10.2 and 40.4.

In similar work, Seize The Day (Bosson) and Colonel Warden (Azrul) ran 1000m in 1:10.6, quickening for a final 600m in 37.8. Stablemate Shiatsu (Hassman) covered the same distance in 1:09.8 and 38.6.  

On the No.2 sand, Just Call Me Jonny (S McKay) and Scutalong (C Grylls) cut out 1000m in 1:05.8 and 36.2.