MATAMATA
Grande Gallo and Ruby Rush prepared for Saturday’s Ellerslie meeting with smart work at Matamata on Tuesday morning.
Galloping on the plough, Grande Gallo (L Singh) and Ruby Rush (Doyle) had a full head of steam up as they worked away from the 1000m mark, cutting out the distance in 1:03.2 and finishing off with 600m in 36.4. The Wexford Stables pair look primed to continue their good form at Ellerslie, where Grande Gallo will run in the open sprint and Ruby Rush in the three-year-old 1100m.
Renovations (Harris) and Poise (Sherwood) also caught the eye over 1000m, clocking a slick 1:02.4 and 600m in 36.2. Renovations is open to improvement on her most recent effort, while the unraced Poise only has to replicate her trackwork form to make an impact on debut.
Shiniqua (Sanson) had pace on throughout as she reeled off 1000m in 1:01.4 and 35.6, while Benerro (Sherwood) and Manolete (Harris) also impressed over the same distance in 1:03.2 and 36.7.
Up The Anti (L Singh) prepared for Ellerslie with a solid hitout over ground, timed from the 1200m in 1:18.9, 1:04.8 and 37.5. Others to get through longer work well included Trafalgar (Harris) and Koneko (Sherwood), who ran their last 1200m in 1:17.8, 1:05.2 and 36.9, and Dance For Her (S Collett) and Reliability (Bragg), recording 1:19.6, 1:04.2 and 37.6.
French Thinker (Barnes) and Lucky Dice (Sheehan) hit out well over 1000m in 1:04.2 and 36.3. The Kelly Van Dyk-trained pair have both trained on well from their last-start wins.
Also over 1000m, Ribkraka (Doyle) and Al Azhar (Holliday) returned 1:03.8 and 36.8, Catherinenz (Bragg) and Odds And Ends (S Collett) took 1:06.2 and 37.6, Miss Bo Peep (Mullineaux) well held in 1:06.5 and 38.2, and Catwalk Queen (Mullineaux) 1:11.8 and 42.6.
On the No.1 sand, Lupo Solitario (Sanson) looked bright in his 1000m hitout in 1:09.5 and 40.4. The Easter Handicap winner is scheduled to return to Ellerslie on Saturday week. Up With Ace (Goodwin) and Impressive (Prastiyou) weren’t extended as they left 1000m behind in 1:09 and 39.4.
On the course proper, where the ground was soft 28 metres out, Talisker (Barnes) and Zantabulous (Hassman) got through sound work over 1200m in 1:22.5, with their last 1000m in 1:07.2 and 600m in 39. The Te Akau pair are in good order for Saturday’s Rangitikei Gold Cup at Otaki.
Fleeting Star (Nishizuka) and Volunteer (Wratten) prepared for their Ellerslie engagements with a soundly-run 1000m in 1:07.9 and 39.8. The Richardson/Norvall-trained pair both have good form credentials ahead of the weekend.
Clear Conscience (Nishizuka) had first use of the track in a solid solo hitout over 1000m in 1:08.4 and 37.8. She has run well in both recent Ellerslie starts and returns there on Saturday. War Of Succession (Azrul) also looked in the right shape for Ellerslie when he and Naughty Grannie (Berge) strode over 1200m in 1:22.3, 1:07.8 and 39.8.
Legally Binding (Azrul) and Sense Of Timing (Hassman) maintained a strong gallop over 1000m in 1:07.6 and 600m in 38.8. Over the same distance Amberite (Boyack) returned 1:09.2 and 41.6, and Rumours (Doyle) and Inside Out (Parvee) took 1:12.4 and 42.8. Ellerslie entry Egyptian Queen (Berge) ran in boldly from the 800m in 53.6 and 36.2.