MATAMATA
Ohope Wins, Waitak and Sterling Express all worked well at Matamata on Tuesday morning in preparation for Group One targets at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Galloping 28 metres out on the heavy course proper, Ohope Wins (Doyle) was paired with her New Zealand Oaks rival Clara Bow (Tynan). After setting off from the winning post, the Wexford Stables fillies were timed over their last 1200m in 1:26.1, the last 1000 in 1:10.5 and final 600m in 39.6.
Stablemate and race rival Acer (Mullineaux) went with Avondale Guineas entry Yamato Satona (Loki) in similar work, recording 1:25.6, 1:09.8 and 39.5. The quartet of three-year-olds are all in good order ahead of their weekend assignments.
Waitak (P Singh) also looked well as he strode into solo work over ground, the last 1200m in 1:22.6, 1:07.4 and the last 600m in an impressive 39. He has freshened up well for the drop back in distance for Saturday’s Otaki Maori Weight-For-Age. Race rival Sterling Express also looked the part as his trainer Mark Brosnan took him over the same ground in 1:24.6, 1:09.2 and 39.8. He has trained on well from his second placing in the BCD Sprint.
Qali Al Farrasha (Melvin) another for the 1600m feature, went with Captured By Love (Hassman) over 1200m in 1:24.4, 1:08.2 and a smart 38.5 for the final 600m. Te Akau’s NZ Oaks entry Born To Be Royal (Danis) was accompanied by Avondale Guineas runner Towering Vision (Bosson) over the same ground in 1:25.4, 1:10.2 and 39.6.
Convinced (S Collett) shaped up well for the Uncle Remus Stakes as she cut out 1000m in 1:09.8 and 39.9. Arundel Castle (D Weatherley) and La Danza (Parvee) ran the same distance in 1:10.8 and 42.
Crimson Sky (S Collett) looked bright ahead of her Oaks assignment when she and The Prophet (Harris) left 1200m behind in 1:23.8, 1:09.6 and 39.5. Belle Cheval (Bosson) and To Bravery Born (Azrul) prepared for Saturday’s Uncle Remus Stakes, timed from the 800m in 53.2 and 39.
Uncle Remus Stakes entries Panther (Doyle) and L’Aigle Noir (P Singh) wore blinkers when paired over 1000m in 1:09.8 and 40.2. Race rival Landlock (Harris) was strong at the finish of 1000m with Old Bill Bone (S Collett) in 1:08.7 and 39.2. Avondale Guineas entry Genki (Tynan) got through steady work over 1200m in 1:30.8, 1:14.6 and 43.5.
Alabama Lass (S Collett) was also well held as she worked away from the 1000m mark and was timed over the last 800m in 54.6 and 600m in 38.8. She is scheduled to run in the black-type trial at Taupo on Sunday ahead of the feature sprint on Champions Day. Shoes (Nishizuka) prepared for the weekend with smart work over 1000m in 1:07.4 and 38.8.
Over the same distance Stay Frosty (Garcia) and Lodi Dodi (Paswan) returned 1:09 and 40.6, while Volunteer (Paswan) and Alizarin (Garcia) were let off with 1000m in 1:11.2 and 42.4. Crown Princess (Danis) and Passion ’N’ Pride (Berge) worked over 1200m in 1:25.1, 1:10.2 and 40.4.
On the No.1 sand, Avondale Cup entry Santa Catalina (S McKay) was set her usual task, working steadily over a round before increasing tempo to run in from the 800m in 57 and 39.8.
On the No.2 sand, Rocky Marciano (Smith-Chaston) and Scaredoheights (S McKay) wasted no time over 1000m in 1:03.4 and 36.8. The Underbelly (Harris) and Bow Hill (S Collett) were timed over the same ground in 1:07.6 and 38.2, while St Giles (S Collett) was kept to 1:10.8 and 41.2.