Savoir Faire looked ready to continue his run of form in Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Cup when he galloped impressively at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
A large number of horses made use of the plough before the latest band of rain arrived, among them Savoir Faire (Bosson) and Altari (Berge), who worked over ground and had pace on from the 1200m, cutting out that distance in 1:18.8.
The Te Akau stablemates built their momentum over the last 1000m in 1:03.2 and the final 600m aided by a tailwind in 36.4. Savoir Faire has won his last two starts, most recently beating subsequent Ellerslie winner Levakia, and is at peak fitness to complete a hat-trick in Saturday’s autumn feature, which this year will be run at Otaki.
Uderzo (Leighton) was another to work early, cutting out a brisk 1000m in 1:01.2 and 600m in 36.4. He looks better for recent racing and is a likely improver at Te Rapa on Sunday. Grande Gallo (Mullineaux) and Tri Star (P Singh), who are both entered for the Listed sprint at Otaki, were also in good form over 1000m in 1:04.6, quacking from the 600m in 36.5.
Odds And Ends (Butler), a maiden entry for Waverley on Friday, and Otaki juvenile candidate Royce (S Collett), left 1000m behind in 1:04.2 and 325.8, while stablemates Circus Dancer (Harris) and Quello Dolce (S Collett) were also in good form over the same distance in 1:04 and 36.2.
Champagne Wishes (Ramsay) was timed over 1000m in 1:04.2 and 36.8. Hankee Alpha (P Sing) was another to complete a solo 1000m in good style when returning 1:05.2 and 35.6. Dream Of The Moon (Bosson) and Legally Binding (Hussain) ran the same trip in a smart 1:03.6 and 36.2, while Track Tester (L Singh) and Prudentia (Mool) took 1:04 and 37.5, Marie Antoinette (Leighton) and Mega Roc (L Singh) 1:03.5 and 36.8, The Perfect Ram (Sanson) 1:06.3 and 36.9, Peerless (Leighton) and Desert Mystic (Mullineaux) 1:08.3 and 39.8, Sibling Rivalry (Bosson) and Thumbelina (Berge) 1:05.5 and 36.8, and Perugia (Sanson) 1:07.6 and 37.5.
Over ground Sweet But Psycho (Mullineaux) and Up The Anti (L Singh) prepared for the weekend with a strong 1200m in 1:17.2, 1:02.8 and 37.2. Others timed over 1200m included The Underbelly (Harris) and Bradley (S Collett) in 1:21.8, 1:05 and 37.5, Jake (P Brosnan) 1:21.5, 1:06.3 and 39.4, Proboy (S Collett) and The Prophet (Butler) 1:19.3, 1:04.5 and 37.6, Supremely (Winter) 1:27.6, 1:12.2 and 42.1, and Squire (P Brosnan) 1:24.3, 1:07.2 and 39.
On the course proper, where the going was good 28 metres out, Waverley Friday runners Sweysmart (Butler) and She’s Got Gears (Bragg) strode out well over 1200m in 1:22.3, 1:06.8 and 39.4.
Zafar (Bosson) and Timeless Beauty (Hassman), both entered for the Te Rapa two-year-old race after recent trial wins, were timed from the 800m in 54.5 and 38.4. Otaki two-year-old entry First Light (Hassman) was paired with Sense Of Timing (Bosson) over 1000m in 1:06.2 and 37.6.
On the No.1 sand, Zantabulous (Bosson) and Hakkinen (Azrul) prepared for the Rating 75 1600 at Te Rapa with 1000m in 1:04.6 and 36.9. Race rival Dubai Gold (Dellow) strode over the last 1200m of her work in 1:25.7, 1:10.2 and 40.4, while stablemate Shoes (Nishizuka) ran in from the 800m in a smart 48.6 and 36.2.