Wellington Cup-bound stablemates Arby and Ess Vee Are, Australian raider Interpretation and Wolfgang got through their preparations for Saturday’s Trentham staying test with pleasing work at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

The Darryn and Briar Weatherley-trained Arby and Ess Vee Are were ridden by their respective raceday jockeys Jasmine Fawcett and Matt Cartwright when working together 15 metres on the course proper, which was rated Soft 5 ahead of the day’s big trial programme.

The pair worked away from the top of the straight and were timed from the 1200m in 1:19.2, with the last 1000m in 1:05.4 and 600m in 38. They finished the gallop off strongly, looking very fit for the 3200-metre feature.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Interpretation, who has been staying over at Te Akau Stables since last week, was ridden by his travelling groom Nikki White in striding work on the plough with Midnight Blue (Sheehan), finishing off with a well-held 600m in 43.8. The Galileo gelding, who will carry topweight in the Wellington Cup, also had a hitout on the course proper on Saturday and after finishing second over 2500m at Flemington on New Year’s Day, his fitness levels appear spot-on.
 

Wolfgang was ridden by his co-trainer Shaun McKay on the No. 1 sand, striding over two rounds and quickening through the second round to hit the line full of running without being timed. He failed to figure in the Queen Elizabeth ll Cup at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day but his previous start second in the Manawatu Cup at Trentham is perhaps a better indication of his weekend prospects.

 
Others horses heading to Trentham to catch the eye included the Cody Cole-trained last-start winners Mapalicious and Carajillo. Mapalicious (S Weatherley) was paired with Pukekohe Sunday entry Old Bill Bone (McNab) over 1000m in 1:03.4, the last 600m in 36.2. Over the same ground Carajillo (Cole) and promising maiden Warden (Harris) worked away steadily before completing 1000m in 1:06.6, finishing off with 600m in 36.5.

Foxglove (Lerner) and Cypher (Rastrick) prepared for Pukekohe with sound work over 1000m in 1:04.8 and 36.5, while Cognoscenti (Shinn) also looked on target for his Pukekohe engagement when working boldly over the same ground in 1:03.2 and 36.

Tianzi (Harris) and fellow Trentham entry The Prophet (S Weatherley) were well held over 1000m, recording 1:08.6 and 39.8. Grande Gallo (Farr), who appears to have come through her first-up Ellerslie win in good order, cut out the same distance in 1:05.2 and 36.9.

Leading Karaka Millions 2YO prospect Too Sweet (McNab), who has remained in the north since her Eclipse Stakes win, worked with Lightning Dream (Cartwright) over a soundly-run 1000m in 1:04.8 and 36.5. Belle du Monde (Shinn), another heading to the Karaka Millions 2YO, worked with Angel’s Wings (Bosson) over an easy 1000m in 1:07.4 and 37.4.

Incredible (Tynan) strode over ground and was timed for the last 1200m in 1:22.4 and 600m in 38.2. Balance Of Power (Bosson) went with Aotearoa Classic candidate What You Wish For (Shinn) over 1000m in 1:05.8 and 37.2.
Desert Gold Stakes entry Renovations (Turner) and Lady Lou (Harris) ran the same trip in 1:06.3 and 37, Ma Baker (Prendergast) recorded 1:04.8 and 37.2, while Skaw Valley (Nishizuka) and My Own Beat (Leelu) ran an easy 1000m in 1:11.2 and 40.8.

On the No. 1 sand, Trentham entry Ballon d’Or (Hutchings) went with Just Call Me Jonny (S McKay) over 1000m in 1:03.4 and 36.2.