Recent debut winner Utopic Warrior looked ready for another big effort at Ellerslie this weekend when he galloped impressively at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
After significant rainfall over recent days, the course proper was very heavy and due to poor light early in the session, not all gallops or sections of others could be timed.
Ahead of Wednesday’s race meeting, Utopic Warrior (Sheehan) and stablemate Hit ’N’ Run (Hepi) were allowed to gallop against the rail in the true position. Even allowing for the fresh ground as opposed to the footing wider out, the Kelly van Dyk-trained pair still did well over 1000m in 1:08, quickening as they went to run the final 600m in 37.4.
Utopic Warrior was well fancied on debut at Ellerslie earlier this month after winning all four of his lead-up trials and delivered, albeit narrowly. The Deep Field gelding appears to have trained on well and will return to Ellerslie on Saturday for the Rating 65 1200m. Hit ’N’ Run also ran at Ellerslie, making up a huge slice of ground for fourth after blowing the start, however she has no immediate target.
All other course proper gallops took place 20 metres out, where Grande Gallo (L Singh) and Sister Cynane (Loki) had early use of the ground over 1000m in 1:11, finishing off well with a final 600m in 39.3. Grande Gallo is improved by her first-up run ahead of the open sprint at Ellerslie, where she has raced well in the past.
She Suits Herself (Bosson) and Fortune Cookie (Berge) worked well over ground, timed from the 1200m in 1:24.8 and the last 1000m in 1:08.5, with no final 600m time possible. Both Te Akau fillies are last-start maiden graduates and look fit for the step up to black-type grade in Saturday’s Championship Stakes.
Later in the session, Te Rapa Friday acceptors Fleeting Star (Nishizuka) and Cosmopolitan (Paswan) impressed with the way they got through their work over 1000m in 1:12.8 and 42.1. Stablemates Chante Moi (Wratten) and Lotus (Paswan) prepared for Te Rapa over 1000m in 1:10.8 and 41.8.
The Perfect One (P Singh) looked in good order for Te Rapa as he got through 1000m in 1:08.5 and 39.8. Legally Binding (Hassman) and El Viento (Azrul) prepared for their weekend engagements over 1000m in 1:08.2 and 39.6, while Sibling Rivalry (Hassman) and Celestial Wonder (Barnes) completed similar work with 1000m in 1:08.8.
Easter Handicap entry Pericles (Nishizuka) and Te Rapa runner Dubai Gold (Leighton) got through strong work over 1000m in 1:09.8 and 40.2, while Luminance (L Pertab) and Gold Currency (Prastiyou) covered the same ground in 1:09.2 and 40, Egyptian Queen (Hassman) returned 1:09.2, Charmrose (Melvin) 1:09.6, Sorghaghtani (Sahwan) and Volunteer (Wratten) 1:10 and 41.6, and Hankee Alpha (Leighton) and Track Tester (Mullineaux) 1:14.5 and 41.8.
Those to work over ground included Wolf God (Leighton) and Chaplin (Hasman), who were timed from the 1200m in 1:26.2, 1:11 and 41.8. Crown Princess (Barnes) and Altari (Bosson) covered 1200m in 1:28.4, the last 1000m in 1:10.2, while last-start winner Gippsy God (Mullineaux) was well held over the same ground in 1:31.2, 1:14 and 43.5.
Over 800m, recent trial winner Femme Fatale (S McKay) and Noble Cabello (Goodwin) recorded 57.6 and 39.5, while Shiniqua (Sanson) took 54.8 and 40.2.
On the No.2 sand, Te Rapa entry Sweet But Psycho (Loki) was well held over 1000m in 1:09.5 and 39.2. Spencer (S Collett) and Los Santos (S McKay) didn’t waste any time over 1000m in 1:04.4 and 37.6. Both appear to be coming to hand well in their new preparations.